Can You Make a Living as a Woodworker?
Yes. Woodworking can absolutely be a sustainable, full-time career. Many people imagine woodworking as a hobby or side project, but the reality is that skilled woodworkers are employed across furniture shops, construction trades, restoration studios, design firms, and modern manufacturing. With the right training, woodworking is not only viable — it’s a growing profession with diverse job paths and strong demand for hands-on makers.
At the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI), students in the Wood Design: Furniture program consistently graduate into paid work, with recent employment rates between 90% and 100%. That means most students who pursue professional training really do go on to make a living in the field.
Student turning wood in the shop at SBWI.
How Woodworkers Earn Income Today
Woodworking is far more varied than most people expect. Graduates and experienced woodworkers find paid opportunities in areas such as:
Furniture Making & Custom Design
Building custom, heirloom-quality pieces for clients or producing small-batch furniture lines.
Cabinet Making & Built-Ins
Working with residential builders, renovation companies, or cabinetry shops.
Finish Carpentry
Trim work, installations, doors, staircases, and fine interior details.
Furniture Restoration & Repair
Refinishing or restoring existing pieces — a niche field where craftsmanship really matters.
Wood Products & Prototyping
Creating prototypes for designers or makers, or working in specialty manufacturing environments.
Shop Manager or Project Manager Roles
Overseeing workflow, inventory, project planning, or small teams within fabrication shops.
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Ownership
Many woodworkers ultimately run their own studios, taking on custom commissions or selling their own designs.
These are all real career paths supported by the curriculum at SBWI, which blends technical woodworking skills with design training and business preparation.
What Woodworkers Earn
Industry wages vary depending on specialization, experience, and region, but woodworking-related careers commonly fall in the $51,822–$54,206 range. Some paths — especially furniture design, custom work, or small-business ownership — can scale higher based on the type of work and client base.
Because SBWI teaches both craft and entrepreneurship (pricing work, client communication, portfolio building, marketing, legal business structures), graduates are prepared for both employment and independent work.
Why Skilled Woodworkers Are in Demand
Several industry trends are driving opportunities for trained woodworkers:
1. The return of quality, handcrafted furniture
Consumers are increasingly moving away from fast-furniture. Skilled makers who understand design, joinery, and finishing can create pieces that last — and buyers are willing to pay for it.
2. A shortage of young tradespeople
Many experienced craftspeople are retiring, and fewer people are entering the trades than the industry needs. This opens doors for new professionals, especially those with formal training.
3. Growth in restoration and historic preservation
Older homes and heritage buildings need specialized woodworking and repair skills, which can’t be automated or mass-produced.
4. Expanding custom and small-batch manufacturing
Designers, architects, and builders rely on skilled fabricators to bring concepts to life — from furniture prototypes to custom fixtures.
How Training Helps You Build a Sustainable Career
While some woodworkers are self-taught, formal training dramatically accelerates skill development and employability. At SBWI, students spend 24 hours a week in the shop learning:
hand-tool fundamentals
machine safety and advanced equipment
furniture design and drafting
joinery, milling, and construction
finishing techniques
business and professional practices
That blend of technical and business preparation is a big reason graduates transition into jobs so quickly.
So, Can You Make a Living as a Woodworker?
Absolutely. With solid training, a strong portfolio, and a clear understanding of the industry, woodworking is a legitimate, stable, and fulfilling career path. Whether you want to work in a shop, join the construction trades, or build your own furniture brand, there is real demand for people who can design and build with skill, accuracy, and creativity.