Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Salary
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters in Kentucky make a median of $40,440 a year, or about $19.44 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $44,819 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 40.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Kentucky?
About cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters in Kentucky runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 40.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for cabinetmakers and bench carpenterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level cabinetmakers and bench carpenters (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $46K | +13% | 510 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $39K | -4% | 70 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cabinetmakers and bench carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 40.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cabinetmakers and bench carpenters typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,076/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cabinetmakers and bench carpenter a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $40K here vs. $47K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters?
Kentucky pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters make in Kentucky?
The median is $40,440 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,600, and experienced cabinetmakers and bench carpenters can clear $59,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,743/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 40.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cabinetmakers and bench carpenters salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cabinetmakers and bench carpenters salary is worth about $44,819 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.