Furniture Finishers
SOC Code: 51-7021 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Furniture Finishers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $47,445 | $55,890 | $64,334 | $72,779 |
| Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $46,446 | $55,224 | $63,981 | $72,758 |
| Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $45,302 | $54,288 | $63,253 | $72,238 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $53,352 | $58,906 | $64,480 | $70,034 |
| Worcester, MA | $51,501 | $57,283 | $63,066 | $68,848 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $54,558 | $59,155 | $63,731 | $68,328 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $54,558 | $59,155 | $63,731 | $68,328 |
| Springfield, MA | $54,558 | $59,155 | $63,731 | $68,328 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $48,610 | $54,829 | $61,069 | $67,288 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $47,965 | $54,309 | $60,632 | $66,976 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 | |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 3.3 |
| Mechanical | 3.0 |
| Design | 2.9 |
| Education and Training | 2.8 |
| English Language | 2.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.7 |
| Mathematics | 2.6 |
| Building and Construction | 2.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 61.2% |
| Less than high school | 35.5% |
| Some college | 3.2% |
Typical Tasks
- Mix finish ingredients to obtain desired colors or shades.
- 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.
- Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
- Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
- Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
- Distress surfaces with woodworking tools or abrasives before staining to create an antique appearance, or rub surfaces to bring out highlights and shadings.
- Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
- Remove old finishes and damaged or deteriorated parts, using hand tools, stripping tools, sandpaper, steel wool, abrasives, solvents, or dip baths.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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