How much does a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter make?
The median cabinetmaker and bench carpenter in the United States earns $46,680 per year, about $22.44 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-7011.
Cabinetmaker and bench carpenter salary range
Pay for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,650 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,720. The average (mean) wage of $48,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,650 | $17.14 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 | |
| Median (50th) | $46,680 | $22.44 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $55,760 | $26.81 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,720 | $30.64 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters (SOC 51-7011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cabinetmaker and bench carpenter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn the most in Delaware at $60,090 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $36,630. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $60,090 | 60 |
| New York | $58,680 | 2,470 |
| Connecticut | $58,100 | 740 |
| Massachusetts | $58,040 | 1,440 |
| New Hampshire | $57,980 | 190 |
| Vermont | $57,620 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $52,800 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $51,760 | 790 |
| Illinois | $50,160 | 2,350 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 | 920 |
| Colorado | $49,610 | 1,300 |
| Maryland | $49,180 | 610 |
| Hawaii | $49,050 | 160 |
| California | $49,030 | 7,360 |
| Minnesota | $48,740 | 2,340 |
| Washington | $48,710 | 1,350 |
| Nebraska | $48,600 | 230 |
| Michigan | $48,550 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $48,150 | 940 |
| Montana | $47,920 | 510 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | 450 |
| South Carolina | $47,680 | 710 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,610 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $47,430 | 3,110 |
| New Mexico | $47,210 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $47,140 | 220 |
| Iowa | $47,110 | 1,010 |
| Oregon | $46,910 | 2,190 |
| Wisconsin | $46,790 | 2,070 |
| Tennessee | $46,440 | 1,570 |
| Utah | $46,390 | 2,120 |
| Wyoming | $46,380 | 90 |
| Florida | $46,360 | 3,490 |
| North Carolina | $46,010 | 2,900 |
| Missouri | $45,980 | 1,690 |
| South Dakota | $45,950 | 440 |
| Virginia | $45,910 | 2,170 |
| Arizona | $45,580 | 1,600 |
| Indiana | $45,550 | 5,980 |
| Idaho | $44,870 | 970 |
| West Virginia | $42,400 | 130 |
| Georgia | $42,280 | 3,740 |
| Kansas | $41,350 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $40,440 | 920 |
| Louisiana | $39,280 | 470 |
| Mississippi | $38,800 | 580 |
| Alabama | $38,550 | 1,760 |
| Texas | $38,340 | 5,530 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | 1,020 |
State median wages for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters (SOC 51-7011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
The BLS projects employment of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 2.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 81,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 79,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,900 openings a year for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter
The typical entry-level education for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Delaware, $60,090) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $36,630) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 77,170 people work as cabinetmakers and bench carpenters in the United States. At $46,680 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cabinetmaker and bench carpenter salary FAQ
How much does a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter is $22.44. The middle half of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn between $18.67 and $26.81 per hour.
What is the highest cabinetmaker and bench carpenter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn more than $63,720 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter make a year?
The median annual salary for a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter is $46,680. The average (mean) wage of $48,290 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter a well paid job?
At $46,680 a year, a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 77,170 people work as cabinetmakers and bench carpenters in the United States.
Which state pays cabinetmakers and bench carpenters the most?
Delaware has the highest median salary for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters at $60,090 a year. New York ($58,680) and Connecticut ($58,100) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter a good career?
Employment of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters is projected to shrink 2.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cabinetmaker and bench carpenter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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