← Back to MyCareerRx
🪵

How to Become a Cabinet Maker — Salary, Training & Licensing

Build the centerpiece of every kitchen and bathroom — cabinet makers create custom woodwork that transforms homes and commands premium pricing.

92% High Demand
$35K–$70K
Salary Range
Moderate
Demand
+2%
Job Growth
℞ Prescribed by data · BLS · WEF · McKinsey

Cabinet Maker Apprenticeship & Training in Oregon

Licensing & Requirements
Oregon requires CCB (Construction Contractors Board) license for businesses doing cabinet installation. Individual cabinetmakers work under licensed contractors. AWI certification recommended. No journeyman license.
Training Programs
Oregon College of Art and Craft (legacy), community college woodworking programs, local cabinet shop apprenticeships, CNC training, Portland-area maker spaces with woodworking programs, online cabinetmaking courses.
Average Salary
$34K–$42K (apprentice); $44K–$58K (experienced cabinetmaker); $60K–$90K+ (shop foreman/business owner)
Top Employers
Local custom cabinet shops, Portland-area kitchen design firms, Neil Kelly Company, commercial millwork, custom home builders, architectural woodwork firms, maker community.

Career Overview

Is this career right for you?

✓You love working with wood and enjoy the smell of a woodshop
✓You have a good eye for design, proportion, and detail
✓You're precise with measurements — cabinetry is measured in 1/32 of an inch
✓You enjoy both creative design and hands-on construction
✓You want to learn CNC technology alongside traditional woodworking skills
✓You take pride in creating something beautiful and functional that lasts decades

Your Roadmap

1

Learn Woodworking BasicsAges 16–18

  • Take woodshop, drafting/CAD, and math classes in high school
  • Build simple projects: shelves, boxes, small furniture pieces
  • Learn to use hand tools: chisels, planes, saws, measuring instruments
  • Learn power tool safety: table saw, miter saw, router, drill press, band saw
  • Study wood species, grain patterns, and material properties
  • Watch cabinetmaking tutorials (Jonathan Katz-Moses, Stumpy Nubs on YouTube)
2

Get Formal TrainingAges 18–19

  • Enroll in a cabinetmaking/woodworking program at a trade school or community college (6–24 months)
  • Programs cost $3,000–$15,000 and cover construction techniques, finishing, and design
  • Learn cabinet construction methods: face frame, frameless (European), inset
  • Study joinery: dovetails, mortise and tenon, dados, rabbets, dowels, biscuits
  • Learn finishing techniques: staining, lacquer, polyurethane, paint-grade finishing
  • Get introduced to CNC programming and operation (critical modern skill)
3

Apprentice in a Cabinet ShopAges 19–21

  • Get hired at a cabinet shop as an apprentice ($16–$20/hour)
  • Learn production workflow: cutting, machining, assembly, finishing, installation
  • Master CNC router operation and programming (Cabinet Vision, Mozaik, AutoCAD)
  • Study hardware: hinges (concealed, European), drawer slides (soft-close), pulls
  • Practice installation: field measurements, scribing, leveling, shimming
  • Learn to work with sheet goods: plywood, MDF, melamine, solid surface
4

Develop Advanced SkillsAges 21–23

  • Master custom cabinet design and build for kitchens, bathrooms, closets, built-ins
  • Learn CAD/CAM software for custom cabinet design (Cabinet Vision, SketchUp, AutoCAD)
  • Study countertop materials and installation: granite, quartz, butcher block, solid surface
  • Practice complex installations: crown molding, light valances, custom panels, appliance integration
  • Learn estimating: material takeoffs, labor hours, pricing for custom projects
  • Build a portfolio of your best custom work — photos are your marketing
5

Specialize or Go IndependentAges 23–25

  • Become a lead cabinetmaker or shop foreman ($25–$35/hour)
  • Specialize in high-end custom: exotic woods, curved work, furniture-grade cabinetry
  • Build relationships with kitchen designers, architects, and custom home builders
  • Consider AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) Quality Certification Program
  • Start planning your own cabinet shop — space, equipment, and client pipeline
  • Learn business basics: estimating, ordering, scheduling, client management
6

Open Your Own ShopAges 25+

  • Open a custom cabinet shop with CNC capability
  • Focus on custom residential kitchens — the highest-margin cabinetry work
  • A custom kitchen averages $15,000–$50,000+ for cabinets alone
  • Partner with interior designers and architects for steady high-end referrals
  • Hire apprentices and scale production capacity
  • Successful custom cabinet shop owners earn $75K–$150K+ annually

Cabinet Companies & Manufacturers

Kraftmaid / MasterBrand Cabinets
Largest cabinet manufacturer in the US — production cabinetmaker positions with benefits, training, and advancement to team lead or quality roles.
Crystal Cabinet Works
Premium custom cabinet manufacturer with apprenticeship-style training — learn high-end production methods with excellent craftsmanship standards.
Wood-Mode / Brookhaven
Luxury cabinet manufacturer — skilled cabinetmaker positions working with premium materials and traditional joinery alongside modern CNC.
Local Custom Cabinet Shops
Independent custom shops are the largest employer of cabinetmakers — apprenticeship with hands-on training in design, build, and installation.
Kitchen & Bath Design Firms
Design/build firms combining cabinet sales with custom fabrication — learn both the design and construction sides of the business.

Custom cabinetry is experiencing strong demand driven by home renovation spending and the popularity of custom kitchens. Skilled cabinetmakers who can operate CNC equipment AND do traditional handwork are in particularly high demand.

Search apprenticeship.gov →
Know a company that should be listed here? Email us at admin@mycareerrx.com

Salary Breakdown

Apprentice / Shop Helper$32K–$40KYears 0–2
Cabinetmaker / Installer$42K–$55KYears 2–5
Lead Cabinetmaker / Shop Foreman$55K–$75KYears 5–8
Custom Shop Owner / Master Craftsman$75K–$150K+Years 8+

vs. College

While a classmate spends $100K on an interior design degree and starts at $36K, you apprentice in a cabinet shop, master CNC and hand skills, and earn $42K–$55K within a few years — with zero debt. Custom cabinet shop owners building high-end kitchens routinely earn $75K–$150K+, and the combination of CNC technology skills and traditional craftsmanship makes you virtually irreplaceable.

The Real Talk

The Good

  • Deeply satisfying craftsmanship — you build beautiful, functional pieces that last decades
  • Strong demand driven by home renovation and custom kitchen trends
  • Combines traditional woodworking with modern CNC technology
  • Clear path from apprentice to master to shop owner
  • Indoor work in a clean, controlled shop environment
  • Custom work commands premium pricing — your skill sets your income

The Hard Parts

  • Wood dust exposure requires proper ventilation and respiratory protection
  • Noise from machinery — hearing protection is essential
  • Physical work — lifting sheet goods, standing for long hours
  • Machinery hazards — table saws and routers demand constant respect
  • Custom kitchen timelines can be stressful — clients expect perfection on schedule

Is It Worth It?

Cabinetmaking sits at the intersection of art and engineering. The home renovation market is booming, custom kitchens are the centerpiece of every remodel, and skilled cabinetmakers who can blend CNC precision with hand craftsmanship are in serious demand. A single custom kitchen generates $15,000–$50,000+ in cabinet revenue, and established shop owners doing 20–30 kitchens a year build very profitable businesses. The work is creative, the environment is clean (compared to jobsite trades), and the satisfaction of transforming a room with your own hands never gets old. If you love wood, enjoy precision, and want to create lasting work, cabinetmaking is an exceptional career.

A Career Is Just One Part of Your Story

The best careers don't just pay well — they give you freedom, purpose, and time for the people and things you love. Choose a path that makes your whole life better, not just your resume.

Explore More Tools

🤖 AI Career Impact Calculator →⚖ Salary Comparison Tool →
Take the Career Quiz →← Explore All Careers