Furniture Finisher Salary: What You’ll Make and Why
Furniture finishers make around $36,346 to $59,500 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
According to various salary aggregate websites, a furniture finisher’s salary in the US ranges between $36,346 and $59,500, with an average salary of $48,945. As of July 2022, the base salaries for furniture finishers are listed as follows:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Indeed | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $59,500 | $39,903 | $36,346 | $50,290 | $58,686 |
Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.
Read more: What Is a Furniture Finisher? How to Become One
What influences a salary?
The salary of a Furniture Finisher is determined by a number of factors, including education, experience, and job location. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these factors impact salary.
Years of experience
Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as a furniture finisher, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your furniture finisher salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.
| Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $37,383 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $41,978 |
| Mid career (5 to 9 years) | $48,501 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $55,748 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $69,842 |
Location
Where you live can also impact how much you can make as a furniture finisher. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.
Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average furniture finisher salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | $63,723 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,774 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,578 |
| Baltimore, MD | $60,972 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $60,818 |
| St. Louis, MO | $45,383 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $44,741 |
| Dallas, TX | $43,874 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $41,598 |
| Houston, TX | $38,399 |
How does this compare to similar jobs?
Here’s how a furniture finisher’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.
| Related Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Furniture Repair Technician | $38,489 |
| Interior Designer | $51,197 |
| Furniture Assembler | $26,049 |
| Furniture Refinisher | $35,435 |
| Woodworker | $30,548 |
| Furniture Sales Associate | $32,736 |
| Upholsterer | $34,109 |
| Cabinet Maker | $37,420 |
| Architect | $82,499 |
How to increase your furniture finisher salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as a furniture finisher, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.
1. Strengthen your skills
Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:
- Sanding: Use sandpaper or power sanders to smooth wood surfaces
- Staining: Apply stains and finishes to wood surfaces to protect and enhance the grain
- Painting: Paint wood surfaces using a variety of paint products
- Polishing: Use polishing compounds and buffing wheels to shine wood surfaces
- Repair: Make repairs to damaged wood surfaces
2. Grow your network
Furniture finishers typically work in small shops, so it’s important to develop a good network of contacts. Attend trade shows and meetups, and get to know other professionals in your field. These connections can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
3. Seek regular feedback
If you’re not already doing so, start seeking regular feedback from your supervisor. This will help you identify areas where you can improve your skills, and also show your boss that you’re interested in developing your career. Asking for a raise may be easier if you can demonstrate that you’re constantly striving to improve your work.
Article Sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes517021.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
3. Payscale. “Furniture Finisher Hourly Pay, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Furniture_Finisher/Hourly_Rate.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
4. Ziprecruiter. “Furniture Finisher Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Furniture-Finisher-Salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
6. Salary.com. “Furniture Finisher Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/furniture-finisher-salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
7. Glassdoor. “Furniture Finisher Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/furniture-finisher-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
