by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Cabinetmaking & Millwork explores Cabinetmaking And Millwork. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Set Up, Operate And Repair Industrial Woodworking Machinery, And To Use Such Machinery To Design And Fabricate Wooden Components And Complete Articles. Examples: [Cabinetmaker], [Joiner]. Read on to learn the essential details every cabinetmaking & millwork student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cabinetmaking & millwork programs.
Across the country, cabinetmaking & millwork is a popular field of study, with 464 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cabinetmaking & Millwork Schools ranking analyzes these 40 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cabinetmaking & millwork students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cabinetmaking & millwork programs later in this article.
Coursework for Cabinetmaking & Millwork build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cabinetmaking & millwork graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a cabinetmaking & millwork program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a cabinetmaking & millwork major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cabinetmaking & millwork 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 | 132 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 77 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 255 |
People currently working in careers related to cabinetmaking & millwork tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 53.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 22.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cabinetmaking & millwork careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in cabinetmaking & millwork opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to cabinetmaking & millwork.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cabinetmaking & millwork.
| 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% |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 106,998 | 8.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of cabinetmaking & millwork graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 cabinetmaking & millwork graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cabinetmaking & millwork 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 |
With 40 different cabinetmaking & millwork programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cabinetmaking & millwork school rankings to help you.
Those considering cabinetmaking & millwork, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Woodworking, General | 78 |
| Furniture Design and Manufacturing | 70 |
| Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician | 41 |
| Woodworking, Other | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
