NOC 2021 · 72311 · TEER 2
NOC 72311: Cabinetmakers
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Cabinetmakers use a variety of woods and laminates to construct and repair wooden cabinets, furniture, fixtures and related products. They are employed by furniture manufacturing or repair companies, construction companies and cabinetmaking contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
TEER
TEER 2
Usually needs a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory work
Median wage (Canada)
$24.00 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Not on the list
No high-wage CRS points
Express Entry categories
Trades
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 72311 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: eligible occupationNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 72311 is not one of IRCC's 186 high-wage occupations, so Canadian work or a job offer in it earns no high-wage points. Your usual Canadian work-length points still count.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
- Trades
At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time) in the past 3 years in one listed occupation, plus Express Entry eligibility and the round instructions.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Study plans, specifications or drawings of articles to be made, or prepare specifications
- Mark outlines or dimensions of parts on wood
- Operate woodworking machines, such as power saws, jointers, mortisers and shapers, and use hand tools to cut, shape and form parts and components
- Trim joints and fit parts and subassemblies together to form complete unit using glue and clamps and reinforce joints using nails, screws or other fasteners
- Sand wooden surfaces and apply veneer, stain or polish to finished products
- Repair or restyle wooden furniture, fixtures and related products
- May estimate amount, type and cost of materials required.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- cabinetmaker
- cabinetmaker apprentice
- custom wood furniture maker
- furniture cabinetmaker
All 18 job titles in NOC 72311
- cabinetmaker
- cabinetmaker apprentice
- custom frame and mirror assembler
- custom piano case maker
- custom wood furniture maker
- custom wooden desk maker
- furniture cabinetmaker
- jig builder - wood products manufacturing
- journeyman/woman cabinetmaker
- layout marker - cabinetmaking
- pattern repairman/woman - foundry
- tradesman/woman cabinetmaker
- wood furniture and fixtures patternmaker
- wood model maker
- wood mould maker
- wood pattern inspector
- wood pattern repairman/woman - foundry
- wood patternmaker
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school or college courses in cabinetmaking is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified cabinetmakers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Additional information
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
This occupation may be regulated in some provinces. You may need a licence or certificate from the provincial regulator before you can work in it in Canada, even if you hold permanent residence.
Wages
Wages for NOC 72311 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $19.00 | $24.00 | $31.00 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $19.00 | $24.00 | $30.00 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $19.00 | $25.00 | $33.00 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $17.00 | $22.50 | $31.84 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $18.00 | $23.00 | $30.00 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $26.00 | $33.35 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank's 3-year employment outlook for this occupation, by province and territory.
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cabinetmakers (NOC 72311) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
Here are some key facts about cabinetmakers in Ontario:
Approximately 5,150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cabinetmakers mainly work in the following sectors:
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS 337): 63%
Construction (NAICS 23): 20%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 92% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
60% of cabinetmakers work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
28% of cabinetmakers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 17% compared to 9% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 16% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 23% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cabinetmakers (NOC 72311) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cabinetmakers in Manitoba:
Approximately 600 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cabinetmakers mainly work in the following sectors:
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS 337): 76%
Construction (NAICS 23): 14%
Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 93% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 7% compared to 19% for all occupations
77% of cabinetmakers work all year, while 23% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
10% of cabinetmakers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 87% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 13% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 15% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 35% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 14% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 17% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 15% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cabinetmakers (NOC 72311) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cabinetmakers in Alberta:
Approximately 1,650 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cabinetmakers mainly work in the following sectors:
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS 337): 54%
Construction (NAICS 23): 32%
Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 8%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 20% for all occupations
59% of cabinetmakers work all year, while 41% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
31% of cabinetmakers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 89% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 11% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 12% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 35% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for cabinetmakers (NOC 72311) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Some physical duties of this occupation could be performed by automation technologies, which may enable workers to do their jobs more efficiently.
The adoption of new technologies such as robotics (including autonomous vehicles, drones, sensors) integrated with digital innovations are expected to bolster industries including construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and trade.
Here are some key facts about cabinetmakers in British Columbia:
Approximately 2,450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cabinetmakers mainly work in the following sectors:
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS 337): 60%
Construction (NAICS 23): 27%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 22% for all occupations
62% of cabinetmakers work all year, while 38% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
28% of cabinetmakers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 13% compared to 8% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 26% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 10% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
Very limitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Very limited for cabinetmakers (NOC 72311) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cabinetmakers in Quebec:
Approximately 1,950 people work in this occupation.
Cabinetmakers mainly work in the following sectors:
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS 337): 64%
Construction (NAICS 23): 11%
Transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336): 8%
Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 18% for all occupations
51% of cabinetmakers work all year, while 49% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
32% of cabinetmakers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 89% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 11% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 15% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 20% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 43% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 15% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNova Scotia
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedSaskatchewan
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 72311 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
- 72013 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- 72310 Carpenters
- 94124 Woodworking machine operators
Questions
NOC 72311: common questions
What is the NOC code for cabinetmakers?
What TEER category is NOC 72311?
Is NOC 72311 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72311 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72311 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 72311 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 7Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupationsBroad Category
- 72Technical trades and transportation officers and controllersMajor Group
- 723Technical construction tradesSub-major Group
- 7231Carpenters and cabinetmakersMinor Group
- 72311Cabinetmakers
Enquiry
Is NOC 72311 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
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