Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-7011

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Median pay sits 37% below the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Power Plant Operators, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, Gas Plant Operators).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: Power Plant Operators ($102K) , Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ($64K) , Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers ($68K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-7011 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications
  2. 2. Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture
  3. 3. Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality p…
  4. 4. Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or…
  5. 5. Establish the specifications of articles to be constructed or repaired, or plan the methods or operations for shaping or assembling parts…
  6. 6. Attach parts or subassemblies together to form completed units, using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps
  7. 7. Estimate the amounts, types, or costs of needed materials
  8. 8. Reinforce joints with nails or other fasteners to prepare articles for finishing
  9. 9. Install hardware, such as hinges, handles, catches, or drawer pulls, using hand tools
  10. 10. Trim, sand, or scrape surfaces or joints to prepare articles for finishing
  11. 11. Match materials for color, grain, or texture, giving attention to knots or other features of the wood
  12. 12. 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…

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters: O*NET ranks Operations Monitoring first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-7011 - lead skill Operations Monitoring at 3.5 ; lead knowledge Mathematics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 3.5
  2. 2. Quality Control Analysis 3.4
  3. 3. Monitoring 3.1
  4. 4. Operation and Control 3.1
  5. 5. Speaking 3.0
  6. 6. Critical Thinking 3.0
  7. 7. Operations Analysis 3.0
  8. 8. Equipment Selection 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mathematics 4.2
  2. 2. Building and Construction 3.8
  3. 3. Production and Processing 3.7
  4. 4. Mechanical 3.4
  5. 5. Design 3.4
  6. 6. Engineering and Technology 3.0
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
-37%
vs mid peer median $74,450
This role $46,680/yr
$47K
National median
↓ -2%
Growth 2024-2034
8,100
Annual openings
77,170
Estimated US jobs
Power Plant Operators
Highest-pay peer · $102K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

1. Connecticut $58,100
2. Arkansas $50,070
3. Illinois $50,160
4. Massachusetts $58,040
5. New Jersey $51,760
6. Rhode Island $52,800
7. New Hampshire $57,980
8. New York $58,680
9. Delaware $60,090
10. Vermont $57,620

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers $68,120
  2. 2. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  3. 3. Chemical Plant and System Operators $78,120
  4. 4. Power Plant Operators $102,040
  5. 5. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $78,620
  6. 6. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters sits 37% below the mid peer median ($74,450). Its own median is $46,680.

Employment Projections expect -2% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 8,100 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Connecticut at $58,100. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Plant Operators at $102,040. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters pay-rank #55 in Production Occupations

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters sits at pay-rank #55 of 105 detailed Production Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 51-7011 · national median $46,680 · middle third of Production Occupations (#55/105). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-7011

Connecticut · top state for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

$58K published median

Arkansas · #2 state pay

$50K · behind Connecticut

Power Plant Operators

Highest-pay peer vs Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters · $102K

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

Lower-pay peer beside Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters · $64K

Compare Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

Against another occupation

Power Plant Operators card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters mid-table among Production Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #55 of 105 detailed Production Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ($47K), Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($47K), Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators ($47K), Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders ($46K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. Leading ones include: Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications; Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture; Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality p…; Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters? ▼
For SOC 51-7011, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (3.5), Quality Control Analysis (3.4), Monitoring (3.1), Operation and Control (3.1). Knowledge areas emphasize Mathematics, Building and Construction, Production and Processing. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $46,680 as the national median for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. The published 10th-90th range is $35,650 to $63,720. Beside Power Plant Operators ($102,040), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters is -2%. Projected annual openings: about 8,100. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters? ▼
Connecticut ($58,100), Arkansas ($50,070), Illinois ($50,160) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-7011. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics