Furniture makers make and restore items like chairs, tables, beds and display cabinets.
£14,000 Starter
to£30,000 Experienced
42 to 44 a week
evenings / weekends on shifts
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job. Courses include:
You may need:
You could do an intermediate apprenticeship in furniture manufacturing, or carpentry and joinery.
You'll usually need:
You could apply for jobs if you have experience or qualifications in furniture or cabinet making, or carpentry. Employers often value skills and experience over qualifications.
You can join The Furniture Makers' Company for professional recognition and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about careers and training in furniture making through Creative Choices.
You'll need:
You'll work mainly with wood but you'll also use metals, plastics and other materials. Your day-to-day tasks could include:
You could work in a workshop or in a factory.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
With experience, you could become a workshop supervisor or quality control inspector.
With further training, you could become a furniture or product designer.
In larger firms, you could move into estimating, buying or training.
You could start your own business and specialise in hand-crafted furniture or restoring antique items.