Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Furniture finishers work in a niche occupation with national employment of about 20,000 people. The role is accessible to those with a high school diploma or equivalent, and it values a mix of hands-on abilities and problem-solving skills. Key strengths for this field include fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, creativity and innovation, mechanical aptitude, and being highly detail oriented. Critical and analytical thinking, interpersonal skills, leadership, project management, and science knowledge can further support long-term success. Nationally, the median annual salary is $42,530, with some states and metro areas offering higher pay. Although projected national employment growth is -3.3%, there are still about 2,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing turnover and replacement needs. People considering furniture finishing may also want to explore related options such as plasterers and stucco masons, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators (surface mining), rail car repairers, painters (construction and maintenance), or upholsterers as alternative career paths.
Furniture finishers earn a national median annual salary of $42,530. Pay varies by location, with several states and metros standing out for higher median wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts has a median salary of $56,300, followed by Colorado at $50,000, California at $49,080, and New York at $48,340. Washington is closer to the national median at $42,990. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro shows a median of $58,340, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH matches the state’s $56,300. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $50,020, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is at $47,660, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is at $45,200. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential within this occupation.
Nationally, furniture finishers have employment of about 20,000, with projected employment growth of -3.3%. Despite this negative growth rate, the occupation still has an estimated 2,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that, while overall employment is expected to decline, there will continue to be opportunities due to factors such as turnover and replacement needs. The projected growth rate of -3.3% appears consistently across the listed top states and metro areas, suggesting a similar directional trend in those regions. People evaluating this career should weigh the relatively small employment base and negative growth projection against the steady flow of annual openings. Exploring similar occupations—such as painters (construction and maintenance), upholsterers, plasterers and stucco masons, rail car repairers, and excavating and loading machine and dragline operators in surface mining—may be worthwhile for those who want additional options with somewhat related work contexts or skill demands.
Location plays a clear role in opportunities for furniture finishers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out with relatively high employment counts of 1,010, 340, and 1,000 respectively, combined with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores above 65. Massachusetts shows the highest state-level median salary at $56,300, while Colorado and California also offer median pay at or above $49,080. Washington’s median of $42,990 is closer to the national median but still ranks among the top states by opportunity score. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area leads with an opportunity score of 77.27, a median salary of $50,020, and employment of 870, making it a significant concentration point within the field. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest listed metro salary at $58,340, although with a smaller employment base of 90. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also combine solid salaries with moderate employment levels.
The typical education for furniture finishers is a high school diploma or equivalent, which makes this occupation accessible to individuals who have not pursued postsecondary degrees. However, success in this field relies heavily on a specific skills profile. Fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and mechanical aptitude are central to performing the hands-on aspects of the work. Creativity and innovation, along with being detail oriented, support quality and precision. Interpersonal skills and leadership can be important in settings where coordination with others, supervision, or customer interaction occurs. Project management skills may help with organizing work, meeting timelines, and handling multiple tasks. Science knowledge and critical and analytical thinking can contribute to understanding materials, processes, and problem-solving within the role. Individuals who match this combination of practical, cognitive, and interpersonal strengths may find the educational and skill requirements for furniture finishing align well with their backgrounds and interests.
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