How long does woodworker training take in Wisconsin?

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 Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered 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 Wisconsin (2026)

Q: How much do woodworkers earn in Wisconsin?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), woodworkers in Wisconsin earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,790. Employment concentration in Wisconsin is about 1.42 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Wisconsin currently employs approximately 2,070 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

Wisconsin cabinetmakers and bench carpenters earn a median annual wage of $46,790 ($22.50/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,070 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.2% above the national median of $46,680 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,790 ($22.50/hr)
25th percentile: $40,560 per year
75th percentile: $56,680 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $61,040 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,390 per year
Workers employed in Wisconsin: 2,070
Versus national median: 0.2% above the U.S. median of $46,680
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.42 - this occupation is more concentrated in Wisconsin than the national average

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

Wisconsin employs about 2,070 woodworkers earning a median $46,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most woodworkers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Wisconsin.

Key Facts

Median wage (Wisconsin): $46,790/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Wisconsin: 2,070 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.42x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -1.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Woodworker Schools in Wisconsin

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	Fox Valley Technical College	67.6	$5,040 - $16,862	$55,857	63%	Yes*	61 mi
2	Moraine Park Technical College	66.9	$4,819 - $14,583	$53,771	54%	Yes*	28 mi
3	Northwood Technical College	66.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,705	54%	Yes*	209 mi
4	Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$53,022	77%	—	427 mi
5	Madison Area Technical College	59.1	Contact school for pricing	$55,207	28%	Yes*	40 mi
6	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940 - $16,032	$59,906	43%	Yes*	262 mi
7	Western Technical College	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$53,114	36%	Yes*	133 mi
8	Southeast Community College Area	55.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,277	36%	Yes*	447 mi
9	Milwaukee Area Technical College	52.5	$5,184 - $17,359	$52,346	25%	Yes*	45 mi
10	Saint Paul College	48.2	Contact school for pricing	$52,870	36%	Yes*	245 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 2,070 woodworkers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,790 ¹. The state’s concentration of woodworker jobs is 1.42x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Wisconsin, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Woodworker Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	1,650	$50,403	$54,346	$45,859	$68,972
Milwaukee-Waukesha	460	$46,669	$50,273	$39,320	$61,454
Green Bay	370	$45,845	$47,432	$37,491	$59,326
Wausau	300	$45,137	$44,257	$37,805	$52,660
Appleton	160	$43,200	$46,615	$34,920	$59,415
Madison	80	$58,620	$56,620	$40,560	$72,800
La Crosse-Onalaska	70	$45,390	$48,550	$38,220	$59,580
Duluth	40	$40,120	$46,060	$31,960	$67,220
Fond du Lac	40	$50,590	$50,990	$38,660	$65,070
Oshkosh-Neenah	40	$46,830	$49,090	$37,630	$60,830
Eau Claire	40	$46,670	$45,430	$35,520	$59,070
Sheboygan	40	$42,040	$42,960	$33,950	$48,530

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 (Wisconsin): $46,790 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Woodworker in Wisconsin

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

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 Wisconsin? The median annual wage for woodworkers in Wisconsin is $46,790 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,390 and experienced professionals can earn $61,040 or more ¹.

How to Become a Woodworker in Wisconsin

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 2,070 woodworkers ¹. Nationally, woodworker employment is projected to grow -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do woodworkers earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for woodworkers in Wisconsin is $46,790, which is $770 above the national median of $46,020 according to BLS data ¹.

In Wisconsin

Best Trade Schools in Wisconsin (2026)

Explore More Trades in Wisconsin

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)