What does a cabinet maker do?
A cabinet maker is a woodwork specialist who creates the internal fittings of buildings all the way to complete bathrooms and kitchens, focusing mostly on furniture and cabinetry. Cabinet makers take customer orders and work with them to realise their wishes by drafting feasible specifications.
A cabinet maker also repairs existing pieces of furniture or cabinetry or adds finer details to older furniture to enhance its appearance. On a day-to-day basis, cabinet makers measure, cut and join wood components using machinery and specialist tools, and finish off their pieces with handles, joints and other fittings.
Cabinet maker skills and qualifications
A successful cabinet maker would benefit from the following skills and aptitudes:
- Good with practical work and manual activities
- Strong mathematical skills to perform calculations and measurements
- Good hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness
- Ability to operate cutting and joining tools and machines
- Good knowledge of different surfaces and adhesives
- Ability to work precisely with an eye for detail
- No allergies to dust or other materials
- Focused on safe working practices
Cabinet maker experience requirements
A cabinet maker will typically complete an apprenticeship to gain practical skills in their trade when they first start out. In addition to this, or alternatively, some cabinet makers start in their role with no experience and learn on the job under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. You can decide how many years of experience you want your future cabinet maker to have to best meet your organisation’s specific requirements.
Cabinet maker education and training requirements
Cabinet making is considered a trade in Australia, so cabinet makers are expected to have completed at least Year 10 schooling and obtained a trade qualification in order to work as a carpenter.
Most cabinet makers complete an apprenticeship in addition to, or instead of, a formal qualification. The most common trade qualifications for carpenters are the Certificate III in Cabinet Making or the Certificate III in Furniture Making. Both are offered by TAFE and other registered training organisations and include off-the-job training in the trade.
Cabinet maker salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a cabinet maker is $24.80 per hour. This rate is fairly consistent across all states and territories, with the exception of some locations in Victoria reporting above-average salaries for cabinet makers.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are a couple of roles that share some similarities with that of a cabinet maker. Take a look to see if you may need to hire one of these experts instead of a cabinet maker:
Cabinet maker job description FAQs
What makes a good cabinet maker?
A good cabinet maker is patient because it can take some time to acquire the manual skills required in the trade. In addition, excellent hand-eye coordination and a steady hand will come in very useful.
An eye for detail and a keen desire to provide high-quality craftsmanship and appealing products will make your cabinet maker stand out.
What is the difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter?
You may be wondering whether to hire a cabinet maker or a carpenter. Although both trades work with wood, the key difference between the two roles is the level of detail in their work.
While a carpenter creates larger, usually external structures, such as house frames or decking, cabinet makers are more focused on creating pieces for interiors, such as kitchen cabinets or bookcases, and finishing them with finer details.
Do cabinet makers work only with wood?
Although timber is by far the most common material cabinet makers work with, they also use a variety of other materials in their day-to-day work.
Apart from softwood (such as cedar, Douglas fir, pine or hemlock) and hardwood (such as eucalyptus, balsa, mahogany, blackbutt or spotted gum), a cabinet maker regularly uses laminates, particleboard, plywood, medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and even stainless steel. Adhesives are also essential to join the components.
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