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The differences between cabinet installers and cabinet makers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a cabinet installer, becoming a cabinet maker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a cabinet installer has an average salary of $41,193, which is higher than the $36,494 average annual salary of a cabinet maker.
The top three skills for a cabinet installer include customer service, hand tools and work ethic. The most important skills for a cabinet maker are hand tools, shop drawings, and tape measure.
| Cabinet Installer | Cabinet Maker | |
| Yearly salary | $41,193 | $36,494 |
| Hourly rate | $19.80 | $17.55 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 16,050 | 7,319 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A cabinet installer specializes in installing cabinets in homes and establishments. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, measuring the area for installation, maintaining records, developing plans and strategies, attaching units to the wall, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. There are also instances when they must cut wood and even participate in constructing the cabinet. Moreover, a cabinet installer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
A cabinet maker specializes in constructing cabinets and other wooden furniture, even restoring antiques. They usually create their own designs, but there are also times when they craft specific cabinets according to client requests and orders. A cabinet maker usually meets with clients to discuss cabinet specifications, and they may also travel to homes or establishments to obtain measurements and perform other assessments. Their job entails planning methods and materials, purchasing supplies, operating woodworking machinery, assembling parts, and applying paint and other finishing materials to surfaces.
Cabinet installers and cabinet makers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cabinet Installer | Cabinet Maker | |
| Average salary | $41,193 | $36,494 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $57,000 | Between $27,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | MasterBrand Cabinets | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a cabinet installer and a cabinet maker in terms of educational background:
| Cabinet Installer | Cabinet Maker | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cabinet installers' and cabinet makers' demographics:
| Cabinet Installer | Cabinet Maker | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 1.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 1.8% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 5% |