Furniture maker

Make chairs, tables, cabinets and fitted furniture from technical drawings, using hand tools, machines and CNC, in workshops and factories.

Salary£23,000 – £32,000
Hours40 to 44 hours a week; may include evenings and weekends on shifts
Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible

What the job is like

Furniture makers turn drawings and timber into pieces people use every day. If you enjoy woodwork and take pride in a tight joint and a smooth finish, this is a craft you can build a whole career on, from factory production to one-off bespoke pieces.

There are several routes in, including Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships covering everything from furniture manufacturing and CNC machining to bespoke making and restoration, college courses and a T Level in Craft and Design.

What you'll do

Plan work from technical drawings and templates
Work out how much material each job needs
Cut and shape timber and other materials with hand and power tools
Set up and run woodworking machinery, including CNC in some workshops
Assemble pieces and fit hardware, and sometimes upholster them
Apply finishes such as polishes, stains and varnishes
Repair and restore damaged furniture

Where you'll work

Workshop or studio
Indoors
In a team
On your own

Skills and hobbies that help

Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.

Key skills

Used a lot

Handy to have

Teamwork

Hobbies that give you a head start

How to become a furniture maker

Apprenticeship

Level 2: Furniture Manufacturer or Furniture Making Operative. Level 3: Bespoke Furniture Maker, Advanced Furniture CNC Technician or Furniture Restorer

T Level

T Level in Craft and Design (usually 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English and maths)

College

Courses in furniture making, furniture design, wood machining or upholstery; entry requirements vary

Direct application

Apply directly if you have experience or qualifications in furniture or cabinet making, carpentry or upholstery

Where it can lead

Workshop supervisor or quality control manager
With further training, furniture design, interior design or antique restoration
Estimating, buying, marketing or training roles in larger firms
Your own business making bespoke handmade furniture

Good to know

You will mainly use wood, but also metal, plastic and fabric
The Furniture Makers' Company offers professional development and industry contacts

Courses and training

T Level

Find a T Level near you – T Levels (Department for Education)

Two-year technical courses for 16 to 19 year olds in England, with an industry placement of at least 315 hours. Search for schools and colleges offering the T Level you want.

Visit Find a T Level near you
Apprenticeship search

Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK

The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.

Visit Find an apprenticeship
Course search

Find a course – National Careers Service

The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.

Visit Find a course

See all courses and funding

Official information

Sources

We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.

National Careers Service: Furniture maker nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/furniture-maker
Skills England apprenticeship: Furniture manufacturer (Level 2) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0203-v1-1
Skills England apprenticeship: Furniture making operative (Level 2) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0982-v1-0
Skills England apprenticeship: Bespoke furniture maker (Level 3) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0639-v1-1
Skills England apprenticeship: Advanced furniture CNC technician (Level 3) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0655-v1-0
Skills England apprenticeship: Furniture restorer (Level 3) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0978-v1-1