How to Become a Woodworker in New York (2026)

Q: How much do woodworkers earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), woodworkers in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,680. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.51 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 New York?

New York currently employs approximately 2,470 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

New York cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn a median annual wage of $58,680 ($28.21/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,470 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 25.7% above the national median of $46,680 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,680 ($28.21/hr)
25th percentile: $48,300 per year
75th percentile: $71,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,640 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $44,440 per year
Workers employed in New York: 2,470
Versus national median: 25.7% above the U.S. median of $46,680
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.51 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs about 2,470 woodworkers earning a median $58,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most woodworkers train through an approved program before entering the field in New York.

Key Facts

Median wage (New York): $58,680/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in New York: 2,470 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.51x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -1.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Woodworker Schools in New York

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	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,788	Not reported	—	142 mi
2	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	65.4	$8,772 - $26,944	$56,927	47%	Yes*	77 mi
3	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$42,844	Not reported	Yes*	485 mi
4	Bucks County Community College	60.0	$5,683 - $13,963	$52,637	30%	Yes*	85 mi
5	Ocean County Vocational-Technical School	59.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,510	68%	—	92 mi
6	Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center	55.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,527	72%	—	228 mi
7	Eastern Maine Community College	53.4	$4,156 - $16,791	$48,024	33%	Yes*	365 mi
8	Central Piedmont Community College	52.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,441	Not reported	Yes*	555 mi
9	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	70%	—	112 mi
10	Hocking College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,764	Not reported	Yes*	443 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.

New York employs approximately 2,470 woodworkers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,680 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 New York, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (New York): $58,680 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Woodworker in New York

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

How long does it take? woodworker training length in New York varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do woodworkers earn in New York? The median annual wage for woodworkers in New York is $58,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $44,440 and experienced professionals can earn $79,640 or more ¹.

How to Become a Woodworker in New York

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New York training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved woodworker program in New York that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
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 New York before you start working.

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

Woodworker Wages by Metro Area in New York

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	2,270	$58,969	$61,529	$45,336	$79,009
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	240	$45,764	$47,972	$38,442	$57,433
Rochester	220	$46,104	$48,870	$36,871	$63,464
Syracuse	190	$44,420	$47,475	$36,988	$56,959
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	120	$52,917	$52,750	$39,513	$68,010
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	90	$50,924	$54,064	$37,736	$73,489
Kingston	50	$56,910	$58,700	$45,380	$80,600
Utica-Rome	50	$40,260	$43,270	$38,990	$53,290
Binghamton	40	$37,190	$41,430	$35,880	$53,240

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 woodworkers in New York? New York currently employs approximately 2,470 woodworkers ¹. Nationally, woodworker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New York.

How much do woodworkers earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for woodworkers in New York is $58,680, which is $12,660 above the national median of $46,020 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

Explore More Trades in New York

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)