Furniture Finishers

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

Also called: Finish Repair Worker, Finisher, Furniture Finisher, Hand Sander, Lacquer Sprayer, Sander, Sealer Sander, Sprayer, Stain Sprayer, Stain Wiper, Antique Finisher, Antique Refinisher, Antiquer, Cabinet Finisher, Caner, Chair Finisher, Finish Patcher, Finish Sprayer, Frame Repairer, Furniture Assembly Technician (Furniture Assembly Tech), Furniture Builder, Furniture Installer, Furniture Maker, Furniture Polisher, Furniture Refinisher, Furniture Repair Technician, Furniture Repairer, Furniture Restorer, Furniture Sander, Furniture Service Technician (Furniture Service Tech), Furniture Technician, Grainer, Hardwood Finisher, Machine Grainer, Office Furniture Installer, Piano Refinisher, Recoater, Refinisher, Repair Technician, Television Cabinet Finisher, Utility Spray Operator, Varnish Finisher, Wood Cabinet Finisher, Wood Coater, Wood Filler, Wood Finisher, Wood Grainer, Wood Polisher, Wooden Furniture Polisher

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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, machines and equipment

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

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (61.21% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,670–49,730 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-7021.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (61.21% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Furniture Finishers