What apprenticeships are available for cabinet makers in Illinois?

In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Cabinet Maker in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do cabinet makers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cabinet makers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,160. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.78 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cabinet makers in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 2,350 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn a median annual wage of $50,160 ($24.12/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,350 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 7.5% above the national median of $46,680 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,160 ($24.12/hr)
25th percentile: $40,690 per year
75th percentile: $65,780 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $71,330 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,360 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 2,350
Versus national median: 7.5% above the U.S. median of $46,680
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 2,350 cabinet makers earning a median $50,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cabinet makers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Illinois employs approximately 2,350 cabinet makers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,160 ¹. Nationally, cabinet maker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 8,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Cabinet Maker in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Illinois): $50,160 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cabinet Maker in Illinois

How to become a Cabinet Maker in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cabinet makers in Illinois.

How long does it take? Most paths into the cabinet maker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cabinet makers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for cabinet makers in Illinois is $50,160 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,360 and experienced professionals can earn $71,330 or more ¹.

How to Become a Cabinet Maker in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to cabinet makers in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Cabinet Maker Apprenticeship Information in Illinois

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Illinois’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: BEST, Inc
Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
Phone: (815) 224-0375
Email: [email protected]

Cabinet Maker Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), cabinetmakers and bench carpenters wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	1,420	$56,410	$56,390	$38,420	$71,970
St. Louis	370	$49,830	$51,030	$38,150	$61,650
Rockford	70	$60,900	$54,840	$36,220	$63,770
Peoria	50	$60,040	$54,330	$36,290	$62,060
Cape Girardeau	40	$38,440	$44,370	$31,120	$54,620

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cabinet makers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 2,350 cabinet makers ¹. Nationally, cabinet maker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois. You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cabinet makers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cabinet makers in Illinois is $50,160, which is $4,140 above the national median of $46,020 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)