Furniture finishers
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Furniture finishers shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish. The role reports a median annual salary of $42,530 in the US and is projected to decline by 3% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.48 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include types of paint, sanding techniques, check paint consistency, apply colour coats, handle chemical cleaning agents.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £33,078 a year for Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5442). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Furniture finishers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Design
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
- Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
- Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
- Treat warped or stained surfaces to restore original contours and colors.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Furniture finishers do?
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
How much does Furniture finishers earn?
The median annual salary for Furniture finishers in the US is $42,530.
What is the job outlook for Furniture finishers?
The role is projected to decline by 3% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 20,500 workers.
How do I become furniture finishers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Furniture finishers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include types of paint, sanding techniques, check paint consistency, apply colour coats, handle chemical cleaning agents, fix minor scratches. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Furniture finishers?
Our AI-durability model gives Furniture finishers a score of 0.48 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Furniture finishers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.