What Kinds of Jobs Are Available After Woodworking School?
Table crafted by Rustbelt, one of many employers looking for woodworking professionals.
If you graduate from SBWI’s Wood Design: Furniture Making program, you’ll be qualified for a variety of woodworking and furniture-design jobs. The skills you learn — from traditional joinery to finishing, from design to business fundamentals — prepare you to step into real roles after graduation. Many former students now work with furniture makers, cabinetry shops, restoration studios, and small custom-furniture businesses.
Common Career Paths for Furniture Program Graduates
Furniture Maker / Custom Furniture Studio Worker
Many SBWI graduates find work building wardrobes, tables, chairs, cabinets, and custom pieces. For example, some alumni are now employed at Vogue Furniture, building high-quality furniture in a studio environment. These roles require precision, design awareness, and finishing skills — all central to SBWI’s curriculum.
Cabinetmaker or Millwork Shop Carpenter
Cabinet shops, boutique millwork firms, and custom-built cabinetry operations often look for workers who understand layout, joinery, design, and finishing. This role blends functional construction with attention to finish and detail — a perfect fit for someone trained in furniture design and woodworking fundamentals.
Furniture Restoration or Repair Specialist
Restoration shops — whether working on antiques or modern wood pieces — value makers who understand how to deconstruct, repair, and refinish wooden furniture with respect for traditional joinery and materials. SBWI’s mixture of hand-tool work and finishing training gives graduates a valuable skill set for this niche.
Small-Batch Production Shop or Custom Shop Technician
Some shops specialize in small-batch production or custom orders (furniture, built-ins, cabinetry, etc.). These require both machine and hand-tool proficiency, attention to detail, and design awareness. SBWI’s blend of traditional craft and modern fabrication methods gives alumni a competitive edge for such positions.
Independent Furniture Maker / Small Business Owner
Because SBWI’s Wood Design education includes business courses (portfolio development, pricing, marketing, record-keeping, legal, client sales) as part of the curriculum, many graduates start their own furniture-making businesses. This path allows for creative freedom, custom commissions, and the ability to build a brand around handmade furniture.
Shop Technician or Entry-Level Millwork Worker
For graduates seeking to build experience, entry-level shop technician roles — material prep, machine tending, finishing, etc. — are common. This gives plenty of time to hone craft skills, learn shop workflows, and move up as skills develop.
Why These Paths Work — and Why SBWI Prepares You for Them
The Furniture Making program teaches both traditional hand-tool work and modern shop techniques (machine tooling, finishing, design) — giving versatility to fit a variety of job types.
Because the program also includes business training (marketing, pricing, record-keeping, client relations), graduates aren’t just craftsmen — they are ready to run or contribute to real businesses.
SBWI tracks graduate outcomes: many students find employment shortly after graduation, showing that the program aligns with industry demand.
Through the school’s career-services network (SBWI Works), graduates have access to job postings and employer connections — which enhances employment opportunities.
Real Employer Examples: Where SBWI Graduates Work
Vogue Furniture — A custom furniture maker where SBWI alumni now work.
RustBelt Furniture — A firm known for locally-sourced wood pieces; another shop that has hired our graduates.
Metrica — A work-prep/placement setting that has employed our SBWI graduates.