Top states for woodworking wages
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The average annual wage for a woodworker in the United States is $37,520, compared to an average of $58,260 across all occupations, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Researchers at Construction Coverage ranked U.S. states by the mean annual wage for woodworkers, and adjusted the figures for the cost of living, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Over the last two decades, the number of production workers in the U.S. has fallen off substantially as economic forces like globalization and especially automation have eliminated jobs. U.S. employment in production occupations reached a peak of 11.6 million early in the year 2000 and has declined by 27% since.

Today, just 8.4 million people hold production jobs in the U.S. While advances in automation have helped keep productivity up, these job losses are a challenge given recent demand.

Prospects among production occupations vary, as some fields have experienced greater decline than others. Production jobs like metal and plastic machine workers or assemblers and fabricators are projected to see continued employment declines in future years, while a number of others are expected to keep pace or even exceed growth in other fields. Production jobs that are expected to fare better include positions like machinists, which have new opportunities from advanced manufacturing, and certain skilled trades, like welders, which are harder to replace through automation.

Woodworkers are one example of the latter category. These professionals manufacture products like cabinets and furniture using wood, veneers, and laminates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is expected to grow by 8% by 2030, which is in line with the growth expected across all occupations.

Wage comparison

Woodworkers’ compensation varies across the country, however. Many states in the South have lower wages for woodworkers. Texas offers the least favorable wages for woodworkers, with an average cost-of-living-adjusted wage of $33,820, and four other Southern states follow as the lowest-paying states. But some other locations offer solid wages for professionals in the field. National leaders Massachusetts, Iowa, and Delaware each offer average adjusted wages above $45,000 per year.

Here are the best-paying states for woodworkers

Top 15 states for woodworking wages

15. North Dakota
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $41,112
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $37,840
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $51,780
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $53,380

14. Wyoming
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $41,504
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $38,290
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $58,840
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $52,110

13. New Jersey
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $41,511
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $46,145
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $45,500
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $67,120

12. Rhode Island
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $41,521
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $42,287
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $45,580
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $62,120

11. Minnesota
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $42,372
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $41,789
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $44,440
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $60,480

10. Idaho
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $42,446
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $38,709
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $39,740
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $47,940

9. Indiana
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $42,569
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $39,377
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $43,800
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $50,440

8. Alaska
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $42,910
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $44,300
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $53,930
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $63,480

7. Nevada
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $43,270
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $41,996
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $42,290
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $51,080

6. Montana
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $44,440
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $41,082
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $44,370
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $49,340

5. Connecticut
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $44,547
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $46,079
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $50,460
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $66,130

4. Hawaii
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $44,965
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $50,354
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $50,170
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $59,760

3. Delaware
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $45,396
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $44,430
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $43,110
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $59,820

2. Iowa
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $46,140
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $42,009
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $41,980
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $51,140

1. Massachusetts
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $47,948
•    Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $51,516
•    Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $47,150
•    Mean annual wage for all occupations: $72,940

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About the author
Larry Adams | Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).