The median pay for Furniture Finishers is $44,540 a year ($21.41/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 3.5% through 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-7021
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Furniture Finisher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $44,540a year, or $21.41/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $32KTop 10% $61K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,50015,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202515.9K
- Projected 203515.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 15.9K Projected 2035 15.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school35.5%
- High school61.2%
- Certificate3.3%
Highest education held by furniture finishers Segment Value Less than high school 35.5% High school 61.2% Certificate 3.3%
Also advertised as: Finish Repair Worker, Finisher, Furniture Finisher, Hand Sander, Lacquer Sprayer, Sander.
Pay
How much do Furniture Finishers make?
Every furniture finisher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$44,540
Middle half earn $37,670 to $49,730
- 10th
- $32,160
- 25th
- $37,670
- 75th
- $49,730
- 90th
- $61,020
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $32,160 |
| 25th | $37,670 |
| Median | $44,540 |
| 75th | $49,730 |
| 90th | $61,020 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $44,540
- Median hourly wage
- $21.41/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $45,300
- People employed
- 14,480
Versus all US occupations
At $44,540, Furniture Finishers earn 13% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,440 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 7% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $61,020 or more while the bottom 10% earn $32,160, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 11% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $59,830, and still leads at $57,745 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Furniture Finishers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $59,830 | $57,745 | 90 |
| 2Massachusetts | $56,300 | $53,235 | 340 |
| 3New Hampshire | $56,050 | $53,809 | 30 |
| 4Colorado | $50,000 | $48,519 | 170 |
| 5California | $49,080 | $44,328 | 1,010 |
| 6Minnesota | $48,640 | $49,320 | 340 |
| 7New York | $48,340 | $44,792 | 1,000 |
| 8Illinois | $47,600 | $47,620 | 170 |
| 9Pennsylvania | $47,450 | $48,631 | 790 |
| 10Vermont | $47,280 | $48,266 | 30 |
Job outlook
Is Furniture Finisher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Furniture Finishers | −3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Furniture Finishers to change -3.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 600 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, 9.4% of the 15,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of woodworkers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Overall demand for woodworkers is expected to be reduced by automation, especially the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines in wood product manufacturing. However, demand for some wood products, such as those used in home renovation projects and outdoor structures for restaurants and other businesses, may sustain demand for some woodworkers.
Getting in
How to become a Furniture Finisher
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required to become a woodworker. Although some entry-level jobs may be learned in 1 month or less, becoming fully proficient may take several months to more than a year of on-the-job training. Woodworkers also must be able to use computer-controlled machinery.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as furniture finishers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)61.2%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate3.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 61.2% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 35.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Furniture Finisher do?
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Woodworkers manufacture a variety of products, such as cabinets and furniture, using wood, veneers, and laminates. They often combine and incorporate different materials into wood.
Day-to-day tasks
- Brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing ingredients, such as paint, oil, stain, or wax, onto and into wood grain and apply lacquer or other sealers.
- Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
- Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
- Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
- Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- Distress surfaces with woodworking tools or abrasives before staining to create an antique appearance, or rub surfaces to bring out highlights and shadings.
- Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
- Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most woodworkers work full time during regular business hours. Work schedules vary for some woodworkers.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.5
- Writing2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Furniture Finisher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Furniture Finisher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Realistic7.0
- Artistic2.9
- Conventional2.9
- Investigative1.4
- Social1.3
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Furniture Finisher
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Production
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Worker
$41,600median a year
Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%No formal credential - Production
- Production
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
$42,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $61K
−19.2%No formal credential - Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Construction and Extraction
More production careers
Median annual pay, with furniture finishers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Furniture Finisher$44,540
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Furniture Finisher | $44,540 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Furniture Finisher appears on
Questions
Furniture Finisher: frequently asked questions
How much do Furniture Finishers make?
Furniture Finishers earn a median of $44,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 13% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.41/hr. The middle half earn between $37,670 and $49,730. The top 10% earn $61,020 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Furniture Finisher?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Furniture Finishers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 61.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Furniture Finisher a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 600 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Furniture Finisher do?
Woodworkers manufacture a variety of products, such as cabinets and furniture, using wood, veneers, and laminates. A core O*NET task: brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing ingredients, such as paint, oil, stain, or wax, onto and into wood grain and apply lacquer or other sealers. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Furniture Finishers the most?
The highest state medians for Furniture Finishers are Connecticut ($59,830), Massachusetts ($56,300), New Hampshire ($56,050) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Furniture Finisher?
O*NET scores Furniture Finishers highest on the Realistic interest area, which means hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.