How long does woodworker training take in West Virginia?

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 West Virginia?

In West Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships, 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 West Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do woodworkers earn in West Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), woodworkers in West Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $42,400. Employment concentration in West Virginia is roughly 0.38 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 West Virginia?

West Virginia currently employs approximately 130 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

West Virginia cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn a median annual wage of $42,400 ($20.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 130 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.2% below the national median of $46,680 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $42,400 ($20.38/hr)
25th percentile: $37,300 per year
75th percentile: $44,880 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,440 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,000 per year
Workers employed in West Virginia: 130
Versus national median: -9.2% below the U.S. median of $46,680
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.38 - this occupation is less concentrated in West Virginia than the national average

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

West Virginia employs about 130 woodworkers earning a median $42,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most woodworkers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in West Virginia.

Key Facts

Median wage (West Virginia): $42,400/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in West Virginia: 130 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.38x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -1.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Woodworker Schools in West Virginia

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	—	282 mi
2	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	65.4	$8,772 - $26,944	$56,927	47%	Yes*	416 mi
3	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$42,844	Not reported	Yes*	250 mi
4	Bucks County Community College	60.0	$5,683 - $13,963	$52,637	30%	Yes*	354 mi
5	Ocean County Vocational-Technical School	59.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,510	68%	—	389 mi
6	Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center	55.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,527	72%	—	199 mi
7	Southern Crescent Technical College	54.3	Contact school for pricing	$47,009	55%	Yes*	410 mi
8	Central Piedmont Community College	52.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,441	Not reported	Yes*	239 mi
9	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	70%	—	308 mi
10	Hocking College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,764	Not reported	Yes*	74 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.

West Virginia employs approximately 130 woodworkers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,400 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 West Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Woodworker Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	840	$53,790	$54,386	$37,852	$72,064
Huntington-Ashland	N/A	$31,510	$34,910	$24,580	$46,110

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 (West Virginia): $42,400 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Woodworker in West Virginia

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

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 West Virginia? The median annual wage for woodworkers in West Virginia is $42,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,000 and experienced professionals can earn $48,440 or more ¹.

How to Become a Woodworker in West Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 130 woodworkers ¹. Nationally, woodworker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do woodworkers earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for woodworkers in West Virginia is $42,400, which is $3,620 below the national median of $46,020 according to BLS data ¹.

In West Virginia

Best Trade Schools in West Virginia (2026)

Explore More Trades in West Virginia

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)