CFChooseField
Production

Furniture Finishers

Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Furniture Finishers
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Median pay

$42,530
Median annual pay for Furniture Finishers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-3.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

2,000
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

20,500
Estimated U.S. employment for Furniture Finishers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-700
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

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Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Reading Comprehension

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Production and Processing
  2. 2Mechanical
  3. 3Design
  4. 4Education and Training
  5. 5English Language
  6. 6Customer and Personal Service

Abilities

  1. 1Near Vision
  2. 2Visual Color Discrimination
  3. 3Arm-Hand Steadiness
  4. 4Manual Dexterity
  5. 5Control Precision
  6. 6Visualization

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Artistic
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Enterprising

Work styles

  1. 1Attention to Detail
  2. 2Dependability
  3. 3Cautiousness
  4. 4Perseverance
  5. 5Achievement Orientation
  6. 6Innovation

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  3. 3Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  4. 4Handling and Moving Objects
  5. 5Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  6. 6Performing General Physical Activities

Work context

  1. 1Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  2. 2Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  3. 3Exposed to Contaminants
  4. 4Spend Time Standing
  5. 5Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  6. 6Exposed to Hazardous Conditions

Representative 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.
  • 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.
  • Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
  • Mix finish ingredients to obtain desired colors or shades.

Software and tools

Intuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyDuPont ColorNetDuPont Spies Hecker WizardWeb browser software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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