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The differences between cabinet makers and carpenters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a cabinet maker, becoming a carpenter takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a carpenter has an average salary of $41,748, which is higher than the $36,494 average annual salary of a cabinet maker.
The top three skills for a cabinet maker include hand tools, shop drawings and tape measure. The most important skills for a carpenter are hand tools, ladders, and install windows.
| Cabinet Maker | Carpenter | |
| Yearly salary | $36,494 | $41,748 |
| Hourly rate | $17.55 | $20.07 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 7,319 | 5,862 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4.86 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
A carpenter is a skilled worker responsible for different areas of construction. Carpenters perform fabrication from raw materials. They use tools to create a successful finished product on their client's request. Carpenters must be able to multi-task, resolve any possible complications, strictly follow safety standards, and ensure that the project adheres to protocols without compromising quality and accuracy of work. Since carpentry is physical labor, carpenters are expected to be physically fit to accomplish various maintenance and production tasks.
Cabinet makers and carpenters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cabinet Maker | Carpenter | |
| Average salary | $36,494 | $41,748 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $48,000 | Between $31,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Elizabeth, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a cabinet maker and a carpenter in terms of educational background:
| Cabinet Maker | Carpenter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cabinet makers' and carpenters' demographics:
| Cabinet Maker | Carpenter | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |