Career comparison
Cabinetmaker vs. Wood Patternmaker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Wood patternmakers earn more at the median ($49,630 vs. $46,680), while cabinetmakers usually get to work faster (Months to years of training of training). Cabinetmakers build cabinets, furniture and custom woodwork. Wood patternmakers build wooden patterns that foundries use to make casting molds.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cabinetmaker | Wood Patternmaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $46,680 ($22.44/hr) | $49,630 ($23.86/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,650 – $63,720 | $37,600 – $83,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -2.9% (a projected decline) | -2.0% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 6,900 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Months to years of training | Months to years of training |
| Key credential | WCA credentials | Woodworking certificate |
| Work setting | Cabinetmakers work in shops and at install sites.. | Patternmakers work in pattern shops.. |
What each job does
Cabinetmaker
- Read shop drawings
- Cut parts
- Machine joinery
- Assemble cabinets
- Build doors and drawers
Wood Patternmaker
- Read drawings
- Add shrink and draft
- Cut and shape wood
- Build core boxes
- Seal patterns
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, creative work, indoor work, and working independently. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as precision and precision.
Which should you choose?
Choose cabinetmaker if…
- I love woodworking
- I’m precise
- I like design
Choose wood patternmaker if…
- I love woodworking
- I like precision
- I like rare skills
Still torn? Take the Cabinetmaker fit quiz and the Wood Patternmaker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cabinetmaker or wood patternmaker?
Wood Patternmakers earn more at the median: $49,630 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 wood patternmakers (Months to years of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects wood patternmakers to grow -2.0% from 2025–35, compared with -2.9% for cabinetmakers.