The Complete Guide to Becoming A Woodworker, All Other
Know the real pay, the real path, and whether you'll actually like the work before you spend a dime on training
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The real truth about woodworking careers - what you'll actually do, what you'll actually earn, and whether it's the right fit for you.
About this book
You're considering becoming a Woodworker, All Other. Maybe you love working with your hands. Maybe you saw a video of someone turning a rough board into a beautiful table and thought, "I could do that." But before you drop thousands on a trade school or quit a job, you need to know what this career actually is - not what the ads tell you.
This guide walks you through the real day-to-day: the repetitive sanding, the setup of CNC machines, the sawdust in your lungs, the physical wear on your body, and the occasional rush of making something perfectly. You'll get realistic salary numbers at every level, a breakdown of which industries hire the most (hint: it's not fine furniture shops), and a self-assessment checklist to see if you're a good fit before you commit.
No vague inspiration, no promises of six-figure salaries. Just grounded, practical guidance to help you decide if this is the right path - and if it is, exactly how to start without wasting time or money.
Reader Reviews
Susan Jones
★★★★★I appreciate that this guide didn't try to sell me on the fantasy. It's honest about the physical toll and the fact that a lot of the work is repetitive. That said, I felt like Chapter 3 on training could have gone deeper on trade school costs versus apprenticeships. It gave me the basic picture, but I was hoping for more specifics. Still, a useful reality check before I commit to a career change.
Joshua Robinson
★★★★★This is the book I wish I'd had when I was 18. I've been doing custom cabinet making for three years now, and I showed this to my wife - she said it was exactly like listening to me talk about my day. The salary numbers in Chapter 4 were spot on for my area. The self-assessment checklist in Chapter 2 actually helped me talk to my nephew about whether he should consider this path. He's now in an apprenticeship. Highly recommend.
Joshua Campbell
★★★★★Decent overview, but it felt a little repetitive at times - Chapters 6 and 1 both covered the daily work in detail. I also think the guide undersold the creative side of custom furniture work. It's not all CNC and plywood. But I did appreciate the honest look at entry-level pay, which convinced me to negotiate harder on my first job offer. A helpful book, just not as comprehensive as I'd hoped.
Amanda Carter
★★★★★After ten years in an office job, I'm seriously considering moving into woodworking. This guide gave me the concrete information I needed - actual salaries at different levels, what industries actually hire, and a realistic look at the physical demands. The job-hunting checklist in Chapter 5 was directly useful; I've got my new employer asking about my apprenticeship plans. It didn't sugar-coat anything, which is exactly what I wanted.
Jonathan Jones
★★★★★I'm a high school teacher, and I bought this to help advise students interested in trade careers. It's a solid, realistic look at the occupation. The chapter on daily work was eye-opening - my students think woodworking is all furniture making, but this showed them the broader scope. I docked a star because I thought the salary/benefits portion could have been more detailed, but as an intro for someone weighing this career, it's genuinely helpful.