Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters Salary
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters in New Jersey make a median of $51,760 a year, or about $24.88 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $52,104 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 61.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in New Jersey?
About cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 58.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level cabinetmakers and bench carpenters (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $60K | +17% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cabinetmakers and bench carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 58.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cabinetmakers and bench carpenters typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,285/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 90% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $52K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for cabinetmakers and bench carpenters?
New Jersey pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cabinetmakers and bench carpenters make in New Jersey?
The median is $51,760 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,090, and experienced cabinetmakers and bench carpenters can clear $76,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,522/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 58.7% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $52,104 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.