Furniture Finishers
The short answer
This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 100 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.
AI can help with or automate about 9% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Recommend woods, colors, finishes, and furniture styles, using knowledge of wood products, fashions, and styles.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Follow blueprints to produce specific designs.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Confer with customers to determine furniture colors or finishes.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
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.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Fill and smooth cracks or depressions, remove marks and imperfections, and repair broken parts, using plastic or wood putty, glue, nails, or screws.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Smooth, shape, and touch up surfaces to prepare them for finishing, using sandpaper, pumice stones, steel wool, chisels, sanders, or grinders.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Remove accessories prior to finishing, and mask areas that should not be exposed to finishing processes or substances.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Very similar workabout the same pay46 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about the same—$49,618 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Visual Color Discrimination
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
- Oral Expression
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar workslightly less pay262 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$49,094 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Visual Color Discrimination
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
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Your current skills largely cover this move.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Very similar work+2% pay132 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 2% more—$50,412 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Manual Dexterity
- Control Precision
- Visualization
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
New skills to build
- Reaction Time
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- Operations Monitoring
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Very similar workslightly less pay31 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$48,321 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
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- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
- Finger Dexterity
New skills to build
- Mechanical
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Similar work+14% pay112 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 14% more—$56,333 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Visualization
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Static Strength
New skills to build
- Mathematics
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Similar workslightly less pay185 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$46,989 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Manual Dexterity
- Visualization
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
New skills to build
- Fine Arts
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- Engineering and Technology
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Similar workslightly less pay116 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$44,721 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
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New skills to build
- Reaction Time
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Somewhat similar work+27% pay95 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 27% more—$63,024 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Trunk Strength
- Visualization
- Static Strength
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
Tile and Stone Setters
Somewhat similar work+27% pay267 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 27% more—$62,915 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Visualization
- Near Vision
- Static Strength
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- Finger Dexterity
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
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Carpet Installers
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What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Visualization
- Near Vision
- Static Strength
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Trunk Strength
New skills to build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Somewhat similar work+24% pay1,655 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 24% more—$61,187 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Near Vision
- Trunk Strength
- Manual Dexterity
- Visual Color Discrimination
New skills to build
- Administration and Management
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Somewhat similar work+27% pay277 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 27% more—$62,936 vs your $49,439 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Manual Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Visualization
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Trunk Strength
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Gross Body Equilibrium
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Extent Flexibility