Also called: Wood Finisher, Refinisher
Stains, lacquers and polishes furniture to give it its final color and shine.
You sand a table until it's glass-smooth, spray a stain in the finish booth and match the color to a sample. Then you lay on clear coats and rub out tiny dust specks. Getting a mirror-perfect finish is part science, part art.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High-school diploma; on-the-job training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Shrinking (about -3% over 10 years). BLS projects a small decline.
Medium risk for 10 years. Robotic spray lines handle mass production; custom and high-end finishing stays hand work.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at furniture and cabinet shops or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Woodshop class, Art, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-7021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.