# Furniture Finishers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furniture-finishers
- SOC code: 51-7021.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $44,540 (10th percentile $32,160, 90th percentile $61,020)
- Projected growth: Decline, -3.5%
- Openings a year: 1,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RAC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 8 |
| Artistic (A) | 32 |
| Social (S) | 4 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 31 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 75/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 68/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 66/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 66/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 66/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Design, Education and Training, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Building and Construction, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Antique Finisher, Antique Refinisher, Antiquer, Cabinet Finisher, Caner, Chair Finisher, Finish Patcher, Finish Repair Worker, Finish Sprayer, Finisher

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Woodworking](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4807) (CIP 4807, 65 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Rhode Island School of Design RISD](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rhode-island-school-of-design-risd-2225) | Woodworking | not reported | $37,055 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Upholsterers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/upholsterers): $46,340 median pay
- [Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/painting-coating-and-decorating-workers): $41,600 median pay
- [Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cabinetmakers-and-bench-carpenters): $46,680 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Floor Sanders and Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/floor-sanders-and-finishers): $50,440 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.