Furniture Finishers
SOC code 51-7021 · O*NET-SOC 51-7021.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Furniture Finishers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$44,540
a year
Hourly
$21.41
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$45,300
$21.78 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,670 – $49,730
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$32,160 – $61,020
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
14,480
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $32,160
- $15.46/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,670
- $18.11/hr
- Median percentile
- $44,540
- $21.41/hr
- 75th percentile
- $49,730
- $23.91/hr
- 90th percentile
- $61,020
- $29.34/hr
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Confer with customers to determine furniture colors or finishes.
- 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.
- Recommend woods, colors, finishes, and furniture styles, using knowledge of wood products, fashions, and styles.
- Treat warped or stained surfaces to restore original contours and colors.
How to become a furniture finisher
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 61% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)61%
- Less than a High School Diploma36%
- Post-Secondary Certificate3%
Common questions
How much does a furniture finisher earn?
The national median is $44,540 a year. The full range runs from $32,160 at the 10th percentile to $61,020 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a furniture finisher without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Mechanical3.0/5
- Design2.9/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
- English Language2.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.7/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving.