Furniture Finishers and Refinishers
(NOC 9534)
in All Manufacturing and UtilitiesFurniture finishers finish new wood or metal furniture to specified colour and finish. They work for furniture manufacturing plants, retail furniture stores or refinishing and repair shops. Furniture refinishers refinish repaired, used or old furniture. They work for furniture refinishing and repair shops or they may be self-employed.
Job Outlook
Undetermined
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Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities
This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Furniture Finishers and Refiners most commonly work full-time hours. Also, a fair portion of the workforce is self-employed, so having the option to "work for yourself" may appeal to some individuals’ interests/motivations.
The median employment income for 59% of Furniture Finishers and Refiners who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $33,839. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
N/A
Minimum$31,520
MedianN/A
MaximumCompared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities
Hourly Pay
$13.00
Minimum$23.91
Median$35.04
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,056
Minimum$30,111
Median$70,518
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Furniture finishers finish new wood or metal furniture to specified colour and finish. They work for furniture manufacturing plants, retail furniture stores or refinishing and repair shops. Furniture refinishers refinish repaired, used or old furniture. They work for furniture refinishing and repair shops or they may be self-employed.
Job duties
Furniture finishers:
- Set up and use finishing machines or finish furniture by hand.
- Stain or finish wood with stains, paints or other materials using brush or spray gun.
- Use toners, highlights, glazes or shaders to get desired finish.
- Use lacquer or other sealers.
- Decorate wood surfaces or mark surfaces to create antique or other effects using hand and power tools.
- Clean and polish furniture.
- Sand metal furniture to prepare for finish and spray with paint or other materials.
Furniture refinishers:
- Strip old finish from wood surfaces using steel wool, sandpaper and solvents.
- Smooth gouges with wood filler and sand wood.
- Match colours to get original finish and use appropriate finish on stripped wood.
- Polish and wax refinished surfaces.
- Sand or grind metal surfaces to prepare for coating, and paint metal surfaces using electrostatic method, spray gun or other painting equipment.
- Make minor repairs to furniture.
- May do duties of furniture finisher.
Sample job titles
- finishing machine operator
- furniture finisher
- furniture polisher
- furniture refinisher
- furniture stainer
- furniture stripper
- touch-up-person
- trimmer
- wash-off operator
- wood finisher
Skills
These jobs need mechanical skill and physical fitness. Good spatial perception, form perception, and hand-eye coordination are important. You must be accurate and pay close attention to detail.
Job requirements
- Some high school education may be required.
- College, high school or industry courses in furniture finishing or refinishing may be required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
Other considerations
Movement is possible between jobs in this group and progress to supervisor positions is possible with experience.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Cape Breton
Annapolis Valley
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Manufacturing
Other services (except public administration)
Health care and social assistance
Construction
Retail trade
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Top levels of education
High school
N/ACollege certificate or diploma
N/ALess than high school
N/ATrades certificate
N/ACompared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities
High school
$28,505 median annual incomeLess than high school
$19,224 median annual incomeCollege certificate or diploma
$38,781 median annual incomeTrades certificate
$43,975 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$39,715 median annual incomeEducation & training
Adult high school/secondary diploma programs
This program is typically offered at the high school level.The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) administers, coordinates, and supports the development and delivery of adult education programs through learning partners in Nova Scotia. Our learning partners include the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations that offer tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED, empowering Nova Scotians to achieve their learning and employment goals.
Institutions providing this program
Siège Social: 1695, Route 1
Pointe-de-l'Église, NS B0W 1M0
(902) 769-2114
PO Box 220
Halifax, NS B3J 2M4
(866) 679-6722
Various, NS
Various, NS
Woodworking - General
This program is typically offered at the trades/college level.This instructional program class includes any program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to lay out and shape stock; assemble wooden articles or subassemblies; mark, bind, saw, carve, and sand wooden products; repair wooden articles, and use a variety of hand and power tools.
Employment requirements & contacts
No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.