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Woodworking

2 schools compared · Average earnings $32,450/yr

What Woodworking Graduates Do

Your career in woodworking will likely start in one of two places: a custom shop or a larger production facility. As a cabinetmaker, you'll spend your days in a workshop, reading plans and using tools like table saws, routers, and hand chisels to build custom cabinetry and furniture. In a production role, you might be setting up and operating large-scale machinery like CNC routers or industrial sanders, focusing on precision and efficiency for manufacturing.

As your skills develop, you’ll progress from an apprentice to a journeyman, taking on more complex projects and seeing your earnings grow. Many experienced woodworkers eventually specialize in high-value niches like patternmaking or antique furniture restoration, become shop foremen, or open their own custom shops. Although the field has modest overall growth, thousands of jobs open annually to replace retiring craftspeople, creating steady demand for new talent. This is skilled, hands-on work that can't be automated by an algorithm or done from a remote office, securing its value for the future.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$32,450/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

42/100

AI-Proof Rating

AI-Proof

86% of tasks AI-shielded

Apprenticeship Paths

View pathways ↓

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 22 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Woodworking. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Accordion Maker RAPIDS 860	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Cabinetmaker RAPIDS 0055	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Cabinetmaker RAPIDS 0055HY	5200-8000 hrs	Hybrid	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Carver, Hand RAPIDS 42	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Furniture Finisher RAPIDS 212	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$37K – $42,530 – $49K	-3.3%
Harpsichord Maker RAPIDS 248	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Hat Block Maker (Woodwork) RAPIDS 253	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Head Sawyer RAPIDS 831	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $39,950 – $48K	-0.6%
Jig Builder (Wood Contain) RAPIDS 261	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$40K – $51,850 – $80K	-4.5%
Last-Model Maker RAPIDS 275	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Loft Worker (Ship & Boat) RAPIDS 290	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$40K – $51,850 – $80K	-4.5%
Machine Setter (Woodwork) RAPIDS 321	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,440 – $48K	-1.8%
Machinist, Wood RAPIDS 303	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Model Maker (Aircraft) RAPIDS 341	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$40K – $51,850 – $80K	-4.5%
Model Maker, Wood RAPIDS 342	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$40K – $51,850 – $80K	-4.5%
Model Maker-Wood RAPIDS **0342R	7328 hrs ~3.7 yrs	Time	$40K – $51,850 – $80K	-4.5%
Patternmaker, Wood RAPIDS 398	10000 hrs ~5.0 yrs	Time	$45K – $52,520 – $77K	-5.0%
Patternmaking, Wood RAPIDS **0398R	7328 hrs ~3.7 yrs	Time	$45K – $52,520 – $77K	-5.0%
Pipe Organ Builder RAPIDS 417	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Pony Edger (Sawmill) RAPIDS 901	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $39,950 – $48K	-0.6%
Violin Maker, Hand RAPIDS 492	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$38K – $46,020 – $54K	-1.6%
Wood Turning Lathe Operator RAPIDS 505	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$36K – $40,440 – $48K	-1.8%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Woodworking

2 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA	47 45–48	$38,305/yr	28.5x
2	Michigan Career and Technical Institute Plainwell, MI	40 41–41	$26,594/yr	31.0x

Highest Earning Woodworking Programs

Schools where Woodworking graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	$38,305/yr	47
Michigan Career and Technical Institute	$26,594/yr	40

Best ROI for Woodworking

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Woodworking.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Michigan Career and Technical Institute	31.0x	$26,594/yr	40
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	28.5x	$38,305/yr	47

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Woodworking degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Woodworking graduates make in their first year?

The median first-year salary across 2 Woodworking programs is $32,450. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($26,594) and highest ($38,305) earning programs is significant.

How AI-proof is a career in Woodworking?

Our analysis rates Woodworking as "AI-Proof" for automation risk. With 86% of tasks requiring physical presence or manual skill, the vast majority of the work in this trade remains beyond AI's reach.

What's the top-ranked school for Woodworking?

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology leads all 2 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 47/100. Graduates earn $38,305/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.

What's the ROI on a Woodworking program?

Typical graduates earn 29.8 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.

Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →