Career comparison
Cabinetmaker vs. Carpenter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Carpenters earn more at the median ($60,580 vs. $46,680), while cabinetmakers usually get to work faster (Months to years of training of training). Cabinetmakers build cabinets, furniture and custom woodwork. Carpenters build and repair frameworks, structures and finish work from wood and other materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cabinetmaker | Carpenter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $46,680 ($22.44/hr) | $60,580 ($29.12/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,650 – $63,720 | $40,410 – $99,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -2.9% (a projected decline) | +3.9% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 6,900 | 62,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Months to years of training | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) |
| Key credential | WCA credentials | Journeyman carpenter (apprenticeship completion) |
| Work setting | Cabinetmakers work in shops and at install sites.. | Carpenters work on construction sites outdoors and indoors in all weather. |
What each job does
Cabinetmaker
- Read shop drawings
- Cut parts
- Machine joinery
- Assemble cabinets
- Build doors and drawers
Carpenter
- Read blueprints and building plans
- Measure, cut and shape wood, plastic and other materials
- Frame walls, floors, roofs and stairs
- Install doors, windows, cabinets, trim and molding
- Build and remove concrete forms and scaffolding
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, creative work, and problem-solving. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cabinetmaker if…
- I love woodworking
- I’m precise
- I like design
Choose carpenter if…
- I enjoy building things and seeing the results
- I’m good with measurements and spatial thinking
- I don’t mind working outdoors in different weather
Still torn? Take the Cabinetmaker fit quiz and the Carpenter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cabinetmaker or carpenter?
Carpenters earn more at the median: $60,580 versus $46,680 for cabinetmakers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cabinetmakers typically train faster (Months to years of training) than carpenters (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects carpenters to grow +3.9% from 2025–35, compared with -2.9% for cabinetmakers.