Trades & Construction

How to become a Cabinetmaker

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 years

Typical pay

$42k–$62k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   1–2 months

   Get into a millwork shop

   Sanding and assembly to start. Custom shops train because they cannot hire finished.

   Course that covers thisWoodworking & Carpentry Masterclass: Beginner To AdvancedUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   6–18 months

   Learn the machines

   Table saw, jointer, shaper and edge bander — and the sequence a box is built in.

3. 3

   1–2 years

   Learn to read and build to a shop drawing

   Cabinetmaking is precision work; a sixteenth compounds across a wall of uppers.

   Course that covers thisBlueprint Reading for Welders Basic Lines, Views and SymbolsUdemy · around $49.99 →
4. 4

   2–3 years

   Move to CNC or installation

   CNC programming and site installation both pay above bench work.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Cabinetmaker

   Browse jobs now →

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