Custom cabinet makers design cabinets according to home owners' specifications.
Woodworkers, including custom cabinet makers, held 323,300 jobs in the U.S. in 2008, according to a December 2009 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A number of them work as custom cabinet makers, who create cabinets and related items in the remodeling and construction industry. These professionals build cabinets specifically based on customers' specifications, vs.following standard manufacturing specs. Most custom cabinet makers study woodworking in trade schools or colleges. They typically get paid by the hour.
Average Salary and Benefits
Custom cabinet makers earned average wages of $15.29 per hour or $31,790 per year, according to May 2010 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their salaries are based on experience, the geographical areas where they work and the size and labor budgets of their employers. Like other woodworkers, they may earn benefits like health and life insurance, paid holidays and vacations, pensions and other retirement savings plans. (See references 1 and 2)
Salary by Industry
Custom woodworkers earned their highest hourly rates working for the federal government at $25.96 or $54,000 annually, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics' information. They also earned relatively high wages working for state government agencies at $22.49 per hour or $46,790 per year. Those working in the heating, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturing industry also earned above-average wages of $19.92 or $41,440 per year. These workers earned closer to average hourly rates in the household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing industry at $14.86 or $30,910 per year.
Salary by State
Salaries for custom cabinet makers can also vary considerably by state. For example, those in the District of Columbia earned the highest hourly rates at $23.62 or $49,140 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also earned higher than average wages in Maryland and Connecticut at $19.35 and $18.84 per hour or $40,250 and $39,190 per year, respectively. Professional woodworkers earned significantly lower wages in Texas at $13.00 per hour, or $27,030 per year.
Job Outlook
The number of jobs for woodworkers, including custom cabinet makers, are expected to increase 6 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the December 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. This job-growth rate is considered slower than average vs. other industries. Increased automation of cabinets and like products have slowed job growth in this industry. Most job growth in the aforementioned decade will come from increases in population and disposable incomes.
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