Production
Furniture Finishers
Also called: Finish Repair Worker, Finisher, Furniture Finisher, Hand Sander
US median pay
$44,540
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-3.5%
declining
Openings a year (US)
1,500
15,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Remove excess solvent, using cloths soaked in paint thinner.
- Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Service Orientation2.9/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
Knowledge
- 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
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma61%
- Less than high school36%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.