Cabinetmaker

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Work Tasks

• Set up and use woodworking machines to make cabinets and furniture
• Study drawings of items to be made and plan how tasks to be done
• Mark outlines or sizes of parts on wood and cut and shape parts
• Fit parts together, sand surfaces to get them ready for finishing with stain, paint, or varnish
• Work for manufacturers, cabinet shops, furniture stores and repair shops, construction firms, remodeling companies, and custom shops
• Work with cabinets and furniture, blueprints and drawings, wood, woodworking tools and machines, screws and nails, and finishing materials

Salary, Size & Growth

• $38,500 average per year ($18.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (99,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.8% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and an apprenticeship in cabinet making
• Skills/Courses: Courses in carpentry, woodshop, physical science, applied math, wood technology, furniture manufacturing, and wood engineering
• Certification/Licensing: Union membership may be required for some jobs.