by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Woodworking covers Woodworking, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Lay Out And Shape Stock; Assemble Wooden Articles Or Subassemblies; Mark, Bind, Saw, Carve, And Sand Wooden Products; Repair Wooden Articles, And Use A Variety Of Hand And Power Tools. Read on to learn the important information every general woodworking major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general woodworking programs.
In the U.S., general woodworking is a popular field of study, with 78 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Woodworking Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general woodworking students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general woodworking programs later in this article.
Programs in General Woodworking emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general woodworking graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a general woodworking program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general woodworking major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 | 2 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 39 |
People currently working in careers related to general woodworking tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 73.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 20.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general woodworking careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general woodworking opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general woodworking.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general woodworking.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Woodworkers, All Other | 945,993 | 10.0% |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 456,048 | 2.3% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general woodworking 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 general woodworking graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general woodworking grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Woodworkers, All Other | $57,136 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $38,070 |
With 5 different general woodworking programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general woodworking school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general woodworking, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cabinetmaking and Millwork | 464 |
| Furniture Design and Manufacturing | 70 |
| Wooden Boatbuilding Technology/Technician | 41 |
| Woodworking, Other | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
