by our College Data Analytics TeamWoodworking has been around for centuries and is still important today. Majoring in Woodworking provides an education in mark sawing, carving, sanding, and binding wooden products. This also includes putting together wooden articles, shaping and laying out stocks, repairing wooden objects and using various power and hand tools.
This major has two main concentrations in Cabinetmaking and Millwork, or Furniture Design and Manufacturing. Students will take classes in their chosen concentration as well as drawing digital design, furniture making, the history of design, and contemporary design. This program is commonly offered as a certification, however can be received as an Associate's degree.
A degree in Woodworking explores Woodworking. Read on to learn the important information every woodworking major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering woodworking programs.
Across the country, woodworking draws strong interest, with 659 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Woodworking Schools ranking analyzes these 55 schools to determine the best overall colleges for woodworking students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of woodworking programs later in this article.
Programs in Woodworking emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations woodworking graduates commonly enter.
Woodworking is an ideal major for students who like to work with their hands and pay close attention to detail. You should take pride in your craftsmanship and work to fix flaws and errors. Students should also be comfortable with basic computer and math skills, as well as geometry and measurement.
This is a career that requires physical strength and stamina due to long work hours and heavy materials. Most programs include an apprenticeship in order to gain work experience and to learn the basics. This involves working alongside a professional within the field, in addition to hours in the classroom.
The skill set built by a woodworking program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a woodworking major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several woodworking degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 171 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 117 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 32 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 311 |
People currently working in careers related to woodworking tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 52.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 18.9% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in woodworking careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Woodworkers construct various products, such as furniture and cabinets. Usually woodworkers work on-site and will use large tools and read detailed blueprints and schematics. Carpenters repair and construct building structures and framework; they additionally install cabinetry, drywall, and siding. Graduates can also find work as construction laborers and helpers, and construction managers.
Studying woodworking prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to woodworking.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to woodworking.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Wood | 968,557 | 14.0% |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 945,993 | 10.0% |
| Model Makers, Wood | 478,406 | 0.5% |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 468,547 | -4.2% |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 456,048 | 2.3% |
| Furniture Finishers | 418,120 | 7.3% |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 106,998 | 8.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of woodworking graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,034 |
| 4 years | $43,408 |
| 5 years | $46,526 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for woodworking graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers woodworking grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Wood | $69,107 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $67,957 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $67,016 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | $57,136 |
| Model Makers, Wood | $55,448 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $38,070 |
| Furniture Finishers | $37,305 |
With 55 different woodworking programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased woodworking school rankings to help you.
Students interested in woodworking, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cabinetmaking and Millwork | 464 |
| Woodworking, General | 78 |
| Furniture Design and Manufacturing | 70 |
| Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician | 41 |
| Woodworking, Other | 6 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | 67,063 |
| Precision Production, Other | 95 |
| Leatherworking and Upholstery | 26 |
| Boilermaking/Boilermaker | 25 |
| PRECISION PRODUCTION | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
