jobfacts

Furniture maker

Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers — SOC 2020 5442

Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers make, repair and restore wooden furniture, decorative objects and other crafted pieces of woodwork.

Also calledCabinet makerUpholstererFurniture restorerFrench polisherRenovatorRestorerand 181 more titles
Typical full-time pay£33,1002025 Provisional
People in the job36,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month326↓ 4.1%on last year · 309th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time furniture makers earn, 2025
£33,100 typical£25,200lowest 20%n/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less than£25,200
25%£26,400
Median£33,100
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
More than half (56%) of furniture makers work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed furniture makers earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median £33,100
Yorkshire and The Humber!£36,800
East Midlands!£26,500
West Midlands!£24,300
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £33,100
Yorkshire and The Humber£36,800 (small sample)
East Midlands£26,500 (small sample)
West Midlands£24,300 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 2 years
  • 2024 £32,800
  • 2025 Provisional£33,100
↑ 1% since 2024Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 326 jobs for furniture makers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
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Aug 2026268
Jul 2026385
Jun 2026340
May 2026363
Apr 2026277
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026336
Jan 2026323
Dec 2025163
Nov 2025341
Oct 2025438
Sept 2025355
Aug 2025301
Jul 2025345
Jun 2025417
May 2025380
Apr 2025338
Mar 2025367
Feb 2025360
Jan 2025299
Dec 2024144
Nov 2024287
Oct 2024380
Sept 2024490
Aug 2024452
Jul 2024340
Jun 2024418
May 2024476
Apr 2024432
Mar 2024403
Feb 2024376
Jan 2024427
Dec 2023330
Nov 2023265
Oct 2023337
Sept 2023334
Aug 2023380
Jul 2023436
Jun 2023505
May 2023407
Apr 2023347
Mar 2023411
Feb 2023395
Jan 2023416
Dec 2022327
Nov 2022370
Oct 2022360
Sept 2022460
Aug 2022471
Jul 2022399
Jun 2022366
May 2022427
Apr 2022317
Mar 2022387
Feb 2022398
Jan 2022396
Dec 2021262
Nov 2021315
Oct 2021311
Sept 2021374
Aug 2021382
Jul 2021390
Jun 2021404
May 2021377
Apr 2021343
Mar 2021388
Feb 2021196
Jan 2021188
Dec 2020192
Nov 2020247
Oct 2020269
Sept 2020318
Aug 2020306
Jul 2020222
Jun 2020154
May 2020148
Apr 2020192
Mar 2020253
Feb 2020335
Jan 2020316
Dec 2019204
Nov 2019244
Oct 2019282
Sept 2019298
Aug 2019309
Jul 2019356
Jun 2019342
May 2019338
Apr 2019246
Mar 2019280
Feb 2019252
Jan 2019284
Dec 2018202
Nov 2018249
Oct 2018378
Sept 2018332
Aug 2018241
Jul 2018223
Jun 2018312
May 2018276
Apr 2018245
Mar 2018306
Feb 2018314
Jan 2018337
Dec 2017216
Nov 2017317
Oct 2017337
Sept 2017343
Aug 2017342
Jul 2017306
Jun 2017389
May 2017422
Apr 2017443
Mar 2017407
Feb 2017346
Jan 2017339
Is there a shortage of furniture makers?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthUsual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedUsual
Note: uncertain in multiple indicators: change in hourly wage, hours and earnings due to proportion of self employed workers.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
49%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for other skilled trades, which includes furniture makers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London160
Buckinghamshire15
City of Edinburgh15
Leeds14
Wiltshire13
North Yorkshire12
Somerset12
Bristol, City of11
Knowsley11
Liverpool11
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where furniture makers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of furniture makers
n/p
19%!
10%!
31%!
25%!
9.6%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3419% (small sample)
35–4410% (small sample)
45–5431% (small sample)
55–6425% (small sample)
65+9.6% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!17%
Higher education below degree!5.4%
A levels or equivalent41%
GCSEs or equivalent!17%
Other qualifications!12%
No qualifications!5%
!Small sample: treat with caution
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Degree or equivalent17% (small sample)
Higher education below degree5.4% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent41%
GCSEs or equivalent17% (small sample)
Other qualifications12% (small sample)
No qualifications5% (small sample)

Main employers: joinery installation (28%), manufacture of other furniture (13%), manufacture of other builders' carpentry and joinery (8.5%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (5.2%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
17%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 41%
Apprenticeships
5
from level 2
Apprenticeships take
15 months to 3 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Self-employed
56%
of people in the job

Routes in

Furniture maker

You can get into this job through:

College

You could do a college course to get some of the skills needed for a trainee position with a company.

Courses include:

  • furniture making
  • furniture design
  • wood machining
  • furnishings - traditional and modern upholstery
  • T Level in Craft and Design
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a furniture manufacturing business. There are several to choose from, including:

  • Furniture Manufacturer
  • Furniture Making Operative
  • Mattress Manufacturing Operative
  • Wood Product Manufacturing Operative

You can also apply for a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, such as:

  • Bespoke Furniture Maker
  • Advanced Furniture CNC Technician
  • Fitted Furniture Design Technician
  • Advanced Upholsterer
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Apply directly

You could apply directly for jobs if you have experience and qualifications in furniture or cabinet making, carpentry or upholstery.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Furniture Makers' Company or the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers for professional development training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for furniture maker. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Furniture restorer

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • art and design
  • furniture design
  • furniture restoration
  • product design
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Subjects include:

  • furniture making
  • furniture finishing methods
  • T Level in Craft and Design

Some colleges and adult education centres run more informal courses in craft and restoration. Courses include topics like repair methods, staining, veneers and French polishing.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Furniture Finisher Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You might also apply to do a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, such as:

  • Furniture Restorer
  • Advanced Upholsterer
  • Bespoke Furniture Maker

These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 3 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Apply directly

If you have advanced skills from working in upholstery, furniture manufacture or carpentry you may be able to apply directly for jobs.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You can do short courses in woodworking skills, restoration methods and French polishing through the British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association.

Short courses can give you an insight into the profession, and the type of skills required.

Further information

You can find out more about training and careers in furniture restoration and conservation through:

  • The Institute of Conservation
  • British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for furniture restorer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

5 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Craft and designT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements and appropriate materials
  • selects, measures, cuts and shapes wood using saws, chisels, planes, powered hand tools and woodworking machines
  • assembles parts with crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels or adhesives and fits locks, catches, hinges, castors, drawers, shelves and other fittings
  • removes, replaces or repairs damaged parts of wooden furniture
  • measures floor area to be covered and lays wood blocks, parquet panels or hardwood strips
  • matches and marks out veneers ready for cutting and examines and repairs defects in veneer or plywood sheets

Skills

  • sand wood
  • apply a protective layer
  • create smooth wood surface
  • operate wood sawing equipment
  • clean furniture
  • decorate furniture
  • fix minor scratches
  • prepare furniture for application of paint
  • carve materials
  • handle delivery of furniture goods
  • manipulate metal
  • sell furniture
  • sell household goods
  • apply restoration techniques

Knowledge

  • types of wood
  • organic building materials
  • technical drawings
  • furniture industry
  • furniture trends
  • woodturning
  • engraving technologies
  • art history

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Creating and designing

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for textiles, printing and other skilled trades, a group of 17 jobs that includes furniture makers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035→ 0%about 0 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035276,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.