Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Also called: Cabinet Assembler, Cabinet Builder, Cabinetmaker, Frame BuilderCut, shape, and assemble wooden articles or set up and operate a variety of woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, and mortisers to surface, cut, or shape lumber or to fabricate parts for wood products.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 20 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 2.9% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 5.2% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 84% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,550 | $36,110 to $45,360 | 1,760 |
| Arizona | $45,580 | $42,950 to $49,960 | 1,600 |
| Arkansas | $50,070 | $38,590 to $84,680 | 920 |
| California | $49,030 | $45,900 to $59,420 | 7,360 |
| Colorado | $49,610 | $44,880 to $61,250 | 1,300 |
| Connecticut | $58,100 | $46,910 to $67,140 | 740 |
| Delaware | $60,090 | $44,350 to $61,650 | 60 |
| Florida | $46,360 | $38,720 to $50,020 | 3,490 |
| Georgia | $42,280 | $36,590 to $47,800 | 3,740 |
| Hawaii | $49,050 | $40,160 to $61,600 | 160 |
| Idaho | $44,870 | $38,830 to $48,590 | 970 |
| Illinois | $50,160 | $40,690 to $65,780 | 2,350 |
| Indiana | $45,550 | $37,440 to $47,300 | 5,980 |
| Iowa | $47,110 | $44,110 to $56,740 | 1,010 |
| Kansas | $41,350 | $37,910 to $47,450 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $40,440 | $37,320 to $48,940 | 920 |
| Louisiana | $39,280 | $36,410 to $46,260 | 470 |
| Maine | $48,150 | $41,140 to $58,770 | 940 |
| Maryland | $49,180 | $39,080 to $59,060 | 610 |
| Massachusetts | $58,040 | $46,830 to $64,780 | 1,440 |
| Michigan | $48,550 | $46,010 to $58,240 | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $48,740 | $46,270 to $59,110 | 2,340 |
| Mississippi | $38,800 | $29,330 to $50,330 | 580 |
| Missouri | $45,980 | $37,900 to $49,960 | 1,690 |
| Montana | $47,920 | $41,100 to $59,280 | 510 |
| Nebraska | $48,600 | $39,140 to $60,490 | 230 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | $41,980 to $60,740 | 450 |
| New Hampshire | $57,980 | $47,850 to $63,140 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $51,760 | $44,190 to $71,500 | 790 |
| New Mexico | $47,210 | $44,650 to $54,830 | 170 |
| New York | $58,680 | $48,300 to $71,100 | 2,470 |
| North Carolina | $46,010 | $38,250 to $49,780 | 2,900 |
| North Dakota | $47,140 | $40,240 to $50,780 | 220 |
| Ohio | $47,430 | $38,810 to $51,500 | 3,110 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | $33,280 to $47,630 | 1,020 |
| Oregon | $46,910 | $40,300 to $51,620 | 2,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,610 | $40,890 to $59,240 | 3,300 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,530 | $21,840 to $27,290 | 570 |
| Rhode Island | $52,800 | $49,970 to $60,240 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $47,680 | $38,030 to $51,540 | 710 |
| South Dakota | $45,950 | $38,340 to $50,140 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $46,440 | $38,470 to $49,840 | 1,570 |
| Texas | $38,340 | $34,790 to $45,750 | 5,530 |
| Utah | $46,390 | $38,090 to $49,830 | 2,120 |
| Vermont | $57,620 | $46,820 to $66,890 | 360 |
| Virginia | $45,910 | $38,570 to $55,590 | 2,170 |
| Washington | $48,710 | $45,660 to $59,790 | 1,350 |
| West Virginia | $42,400 | $37,300 to $44,880 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $46,790 | $40,560 to $56,680 | 2,070 |
| Wyoming | $46,380 | $38,860 to $54,190 | 90 |
Nationally: $46,680. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 3 of its 20 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Match materials for color, grain, or texture, giving attention to knots or other features of the wood. | Not published |
| Not much | Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or wood substitutes. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut timber to the right size, and shape and trim parts of joints to ensure a snug fit, using hand tools, such as planes, chisels, or wood files. | Not published |
| Not much | Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture. | Not published |
| Not much | Trim, sand, or scrape surfaces or joints to prepare articles for finishing. | Not published |
See all 20 tasks
| Not much | Establish the specifications of articles to be constructed or repaired, or plan the methods or operations for shaping or assembling parts, based on blueprints, drawings, diagrams, or oral or written instructions. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair or alter wooden furniture, cabinetry, fixtures, paneling, or other pieces. | Not published |
| Not much | Attach parts or subassemblies together to form completed units, using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps. | Not published |
| Not much | Reinforce joints with nails or other fasteners to prepare articles for finishing. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform final touch-ups with sandpaper or steel wool. | Not published |
| Not much | Bore holes for insertion of screws or dowels, by hand or using boring machines. | Not published |
| Not much | Install hardware, such as hinges, handles, catches, or drawer pulls, using hand tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Dip, brush, or spray assembled articles with protective or decorative finishes, such as stain, varnish, paint, or lacquer. | Not published |
| AI + software | Estimate the amounts, types, or costs of needed materials. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Apply Masonite, formica, or vinyl surfacing materials. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design furniture, using computer-aided drawing programs. | Not published |
| Not much | Draw up detailed specifications and discuss projects with customers. | Not published |
| AI + software | Program computers to operate machinery. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 17 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- #31 Program computer systems or production equipment
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Apply protective solutions or coatings | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Program computer systems or production equipment | |||
| Determine values or prices of goods or services |
Show all 17 activities
| Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications | |||
| Create decorative objects or parts of objects | |||
| Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations | |||
| Repair workpieces or products | |||
| Shape materials to create products | |||
| Design structures or facilities | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment | |||
| Drill holes in earth or materials |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation23%
- Data or a spreadsheet20%
- A document or report12%
- Math or a calculation10%
- An explanation or answer10%
How they worked with Claude
47% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 2,040 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Carpenters Low +3.9% 5%
- 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 4 Clergy High +2.4% 5%
- 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 2,256 moves in
- 1 Cooks, Restaurant Moderate +12.1% 7%
- 2 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 6%
- 3 Carpenters Low +3.9% 6%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 19% less than high school
- 44% high school
- 18% some college
- 9% associate's
- 9% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 517 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Cabinetmaking and Millwork.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
16.4% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 9 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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