How long does woodworker training take in Louisiana?

Most paths into the woodworker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for woodworkers in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Woodworker in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How much do woodworkers earn in Louisiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), woodworkers in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,280. Employment concentration in Louisiana is roughly 0.49 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for woodworkers in Louisiana?

Louisiana currently employs approximately 470 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Louisiana cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn a median annual wage of $39,280 ($18.88/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 470 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -15.9% below the national median of $46,680 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,280 ($18.88/hr)
25th percentile: $36,410 per year
75th percentile: $46,260 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $52,130 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $29,910 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 470
Versus national median: -15.9% below the U.S. median of $46,680
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.49 - this occupation is less concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

Louisiana employs about 470 woodworkers earning a median $39,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most woodworkers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Louisiana.

Key Facts

Median wage (Louisiana): $39,280/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Louisiana: 470 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.49x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -1.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Woodworker Schools in Louisiana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$53,022	77%	—	452 mi
2	Southern Oklahoma Technology Center	54.5	Contact school for pricing	$40,071	76%	—	381 mi
3	Southern Crescent Technical College	54.3	Contact school for pricing	$47,009	55%	Yes*	464 mi
4	Lee College	53.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,434	Not reported	—	211 mi
5	Northwest Shoals Community College	51.7	Contact school for pricing	$45,546	36%	Yes*	351 mi
6	Southern Regional Technical College	50.2	Contact school for pricing	$41,871	33%	Yes*	462 mi
7	George C Wallace Community College-Dothan	48.5	$4,980 - $9,308	$48,054	31%	Yes*	372 mi
8	Columbus Technical College	47.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,818	24%	Yes*	414 mi
9	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,176	49%	Yes*	286 mi
10	Francis Tuttle Technology Center	39.8	Contact school for pricing	$36,657	Not reported	—	466 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Louisiana employs approximately 470 woodworkers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,280 ¹. Nationally, woodworker 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 woodworker in Louisiana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Woodworker Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Baton Rouge	230	$46,311	$44,475	$30,037	$53,825
Lafayette	70	$41,600	$41,030	$30,250	$62,400

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 .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Louisiana): $39,280 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Woodworker in Louisiana

How to become a woodworker in Louisiana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for woodworkers in Louisiana.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do woodworkers earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for woodworkers in Louisiana is $39,280 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,910 and experienced professionals can earn $52,130 or more ¹.

How to Become a Woodworker in Louisiana

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Louisiana training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Louisiana 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 woodworkers in Louisiana before you start working.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for woodworkers in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 470 woodworkers ¹. Nationally, woodworker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Louisiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Louisiana.

How much do woodworkers earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for woodworkers in Louisiana is $39,280, which is $6,740 below the national median of $46,020 according to BLS data ¹.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)