How to hire a cabinet maker

How to hire a cabinet maker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cabinet maker hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cabinet maker job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cabinet maker
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cabinet maker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the cabinet maker you need to hire. Certain cabinet maker roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect cabinet maker also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of cabinet makers.

   Type of Cabinet Maker	Description	Hourly rate
   Cabinet Maker	Woodworkers manufacture a variety of products such as cabinets and furniture, using wood, veneers, and laminates. They often combine and incorporate different materials into wood.	$12-23

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Shop Drawings
   • Tape Measure
   • Table Saws
   • CNC Router
   • Power Saws
   • Cabinet Shop
   • Shop Equipment
   • Cabinet Doors
   • Jointers
   • Custom Furniture
   • Planers
   • Custom Doors
   • Jigs

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform building of custom cabinetry from detail blueprints, using planers, jointers, shapers, and various woodworking machinery.
   • Used table see, panel see, planers, jointer, routers, shapers, and nailers.
   • Verify dimensions of carving, using rule and dividers.
   • Design, replace, and maintain electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.
   • Skil in using veneer, solid wood, Formica, among other types of wood.
   • Resurface bathtubs and counter tops.Helper, prepper, painting, caulking, sanding, masking.

   More cabinet maker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cabinet maker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cabinet maker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cabinet makers' average salary in arkansas is 47% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cabinet makers earn 44% less than senior-level cabinet makers.
   • Certifications. A cabinet maker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cabinet maker's salary.

   Average cabinet maker salary

   $36,494yearly

   $17.55 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cabinet maker salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average cabinet maker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$49,938	$24
   2	Massachusetts	$49,282	$24
   3	New York	$48,471	$23
   4	Illinois	$44,368	$21
   5	California	$40,040	$19
   6	Washington	$39,931	$19
   7	Idaho	$39,606	$19
   8	Connecticut	$38,886	$19
   9	Minnesota	$37,537	$18
   10	Ohio	$37,399	$18
   11	Wisconsin	$37,150	$18
   12	Colorado	$36,066	$17
   13	Utah	$34,832	$17
   14	Missouri	$34,351	$17
   15	Florida	$31,140	$15
   16	North Carolina	$30,457	$15
   17	Georgia	$28,922	$14
   18	Texas	$27,539	$13

   Average cabinet maker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$47,335	$22.76
   2	A-dec	$41,821	$20.11
   3	P&S Surgical Hospital	$40,366	$19.41
   4	Preferred	$39,874	$19.17
   5	AAA FACILITY SERVICES	$39,822	$19.15	2
   6	VisionCorp Rep	$39,758	$19.11	1
   7	L.& J.G. Stickley	$39,308	$18.90
   8	Nabholz	$39,289	$18.89	2
   9	UFP Industries	$38,412	$18.47
   10	General Dynamics	$38,327	$18.43	16
   11	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$38,154	$18.34
   12	Kitchen Magic	$36,555	$17.57	1
   13	Factory Direct, Inc	$36,036	$17.32
   14	Tradesmen International	$35,932	$17.27
   15	Heavy Equipment Co LLC	$35,810	$17.22
   16	Trillium Staffing	$35,790	$17.21
   17	Allegheny Millwork	$35,562	$17.10	1
   18	Glidewell	$35,408	$17.02
   19	Raley's	$35,315	$16.98
   20	Retail Services	$35,048	$16.85

4. Writing a cabinet maker job description

   A cabinet maker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a cabinet maker job description:

   Cabinet maker job description example

   Job DescriptionCabinet Maker- 2nd shift
   The Reserves Network is currently hiring a Cabinet Maker for a busy manufacturing company in the Clearwater area. The Cabinet Maker will be responsible for assembling cabinets and chairs for dental offices.
   What a typical day will look like:
   

   • Will work in a manufacturing setting daily assembling cabinets that have been manufactured
   • Will operate machines to Cut, Measure, Sand and Assemble cabinets together
   • Will attach door handles, knobs, and hinges

   What you need:

   • High school diploma or GED equivalent
   • Experience in making and manufacturing cabinets
   • Experience with cabinetry or carpentry helpful
   • Ability to work in a manufacturing setting daily
   • Ability to follow drawings, order provided to make cabinets
   • Ability to accurately read a Tape Measure
   • Ability to Cut, Measure, Sand and Assemble cabinets together

   What is in It for You:

   • $16.00 - 18.00 per hour
   • 1st shift & 2nd shift openings:
   • Monday - Friday
   • When you work as an employee through The Reserves Network, you are eligible to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as 401K, direct deposit, and our referral bonus program!

   
   Apply now or call our Tampa office today for an interview! (813) 537 - 2622 The Reserves Network is a family-owned and veteran-founded company. Since 1984, we have been bringing employers and job seekers together in a variety of industries and positions. As an equal opportunity employer, we value our employees and foster an environment of respect, integrity, and trust in every aspect of employment. However you identify and whatever your background, we encourage you to apply today or you can download our mobile app to receive and accept real-time job notifications.
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cabinet maker for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cabinet maker job on Zippia to find and recruit cabinet maker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cabinet maker candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cabinet maker

   Once you've selected the best cabinet maker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new cabinet maker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cabinet maker?