Woodworking Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Woodworking major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Technician, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Technician, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$36,151

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$57,157

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$76,814

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 6.6%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$1,446,040

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
SOC: 51-7011
Occupation: Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
$46,020
79,540
N/A
N/A
Furniture Finishers
SOC: 51-7021
Occupation: Furniture Finishers
$42,530
14,230
N/A
N/A
Model Makers, Wood
SOC: 51-7031
Occupation: Model Makers, Wood
$51,850
360
N/A
N/A
Patternmakers, Wood
SOC: 51-7032
Occupation: Patternmakers, Wood
$52,520
180
N/A
N/A
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
SOC: 51-7041
Occupation: Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
$39,950
43,140
N/A
N/A
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
SOC: 51-7042
Occupation: Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
$40,440
63,350
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Furniture Finishers

29.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$42,53014,230
2023$39,79014,380
2022$37,96014,990
2021$36,58016,300
2020$32,97015,590

Colleges offering Woodworking

Rochester Institute of Technology

RoEdu™

981

Net Price

$40k

Earnings

$70k

Utah Valley University

RoEdu™

948

Net Price

$9k

Earnings

$54k

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

RoEdu™

913

Net Price

$22k

Earnings

$56k

Austin Community College District

RoEdu™

846

Net Price

$4k

Earnings

$49k

Seattle Central College

RoEdu™

838

Net Price

$9k

Earnings

$48k