Furniture Finishers
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Also called: Antique Finisher, Antique Refinisher, Antiquer, Cabinet Finisher, Caner, Chair Finisher
Median pay
$44,540
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$32,160 – $61,020
People employed
14,480
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 4.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 7.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Exposure to hazardous conditions
- Tight deadlines are common
Furniture Finishers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (43 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What furniture finishers do
- 01Confer with customers to determine furniture colors or finishes.
- 02Brush, spray, or hand-rub finishing ingredients, such as paint, oil, stain, or wax, onto and into wood grain and apply lacquer or other sealers.
- 03Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
- 04Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- 05Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
- 06Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Design
- Education and Training
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from furniture finishers
- Upholsterers93% · +4%
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic87% · +4%
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers85% · −7%
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand85% · −4%
- Floor Sanders and Finishers85% · +13%
Change into furniture finishers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Upholsterers93% · $46,340
- Floor Sanders and Finishers87% · $50,440
- Carpet Installers86% · $50,340
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators86% · $46,880
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers85% · $41,600
Majors that lead here
- Furniture Design and Manufacturing
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.