Cabinetmakers
Job description
These individuals make and repair wooden furniture and accessories. They may be self-employed or work for:
- Furniture manufacturing or repair plants
- Construction companies
- Cabinetmaking contractors
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Odours
- Nontoxic dust
- Noise
Main tasks
- Study the plans, specifications, or drawings of the items to be manufactured.
- Evaluate the quantity, type, and cost of materials required.
- Trace the contours of the parts or mark their dimensions.
- Operate woodworking machines (e.g. power saws).
- Form parts with hand tools.
- Assemble parts to form a piece of furniture.
- Sand surfaces and apply a coating to finished items.
- Repair or remodel wooden furniture or fixtures.
Advancement and mobility
- Qualified Cabinetmakers receive a Red Seal endorsement upon successful completion of the Interprovincial Examination.
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 10.2% Female
- 89.8% Male
- 10.2% Female
- 89.8% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 33767% of jobs
-
NAICS 2310% of jobs
-
NAICS 33646% of jobs
-
NAICS 3215% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 452% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 33767% of jobs
-
NAICS 2310% of jobs
-
NAICS 33646% of jobs
-
NAICS 3215% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 452% of jobs
-
Others10% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in cabinetmaking
Placement rate: 78%
5.4% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in Ébénisterie
Placement rate: 76.7%
11.8% of graduates pursue further studies
College
DCS in techniques de métiers d'art (Céramique)
Placement rate: 62.5%
DCS in techniques de métiers d'art (Ébénisterie artisanale)
Placement rate: 93.8%
DCS in techniques de métiers d'art (Lutherie)
Placement rate: 53.8%
DCS in techniques du meuble et d'ébénisterie (Menuiserie architecturale)
Placement rate: 81.8%
18.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Monitoring operations
- Quality control analysis
- Information processing
- Result evaluation
- Operations and control
- Operation analysis
- Troubleshooting
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
- Critical thought
- Equipment selection
Abilities
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Hand-arm stability
- Near vision
- Control accuracy
- Limb coordination
- Core strength
- Visualization
- Static muscle power
- Awareness of issues
- Reaction time
- Written comprehension
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Auditory attention
- Selective attention
- Classification
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Depth perception
- Inductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Speech recognition
- Response orientation
- Hearing sensitivity
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Distance vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Commitment
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Creativity
- Commitment to quality
- Patience
- Open-mindedness
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Self-employment
- Work manually
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
Official name of the NOC 72311
Cabinetmakers
Job titles
- Cabinetmaker
- Furniture cabinetmaker
- Tradesman/woman cabinetmaker
- Custom wood furniture maker
- Wood patternmaker
- Cabinetmaker apprentice
- Custom frame and mirror assembler
- Journeyman/woman cabinetmaker
- Wood mould maker
- Custom piano case maker
- Custom wooden desk maker
- Jig builder - wood products manufacturing
- Wood pattern inspector
- Wood model maker
- Wood furniture and fixtures patternmaker
- Pattern repairman/woman - foundry
- Layout marker - cabinetmaking
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026