- Salary statistics
- Cabinetmaker
Cabinetmaker
31 900 - 32 300 kr / month
Hantverksyrken
Salary progression Cabinetmaker
What does a furniture maker do? – Tasks and work environment
Furniture makers work with manufacturing, repairing, and restoring furniture and interior details made of wood and other materials. The profession often involves working with both machinery and hand tools to shape, assemble, and finish wood products according to drawings or customer requests. The work environment varies between carpentry workshops, small studios, and sometimes on-site at customer locations during installation or repairs. Precision and attention to detail are central qualities in this profession, and the workday often involves both independent work and collaboration in small teams.
Salary development over time
The salary for furniture makers has shown some fluctuations over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,400 SEK per month, which increased to 33 000 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has slightly decreased to 32 300 SEK per month. This development corresponds to an increase of about 6% from 2022 to 2023, followed by a decrease of approximately 2% in the most recent year. Salary changes may be due to variations in demand, economic fluctuations, and an oversupply of labor within the field, confirmed by the Employment Service's assessment of a national surplus of workforce in this area. Despite temporary declines, the profession continues to offer stable income for skilled craftsmen.
Furniture maker salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 32 300 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: Data unavailable
- Highest salary: Data unavailable
- Hourly wage: 194 SEK
- Gender differences: Only data for men (32 300 SEK), data for women is missing
- Regional differences: Data unavailable
Education and qualifications
To work as a furniture maker, a vocational education focusing on fine carpentry is usually required, often combined with practical training. It is also common to supplement with courses in specialized techniques or design. Some choose to deepen their knowledge through further education or apprenticeships at established carpentry shops.
- Vocational education: Wood and furniture carpentry at high school vocational programs (3 years)
- Higher vocational education: Fine carpentry and furniture design (1–2 years)
- Practical training or apprenticeship: Usually 6–12 months
- Courses and certifications: Finishing, material science, CAD drawing
- Prerequisites: Basic high school competence recommended
Furniture makers specializing in restoring antique furniture often work with unique objects and develop expert knowledge in materials and craftsmanship techniques. It is a profession where tradition meets innovation, and where the historical value of an item can be as important as its function.
Common benefits and compensations
Furniture makers are often covered by collective agreements that provide access to occupational pensions, insurance, and overtime allowances. Other benefits may include wellness allowances, work clothing, and sometimes opportunities for skill development through courses or site visits. Some employers also offer bonuses for larger projects or commissions for selling their own products.
Competition and challenges
The profession of furniture making is currently characterized by tough competition, where many trained workers seek employment relative to the number of available positions. The Employment Service assesses that there is a surplus of labor and that job opportunities are limited, with a prognosis of unchanged demand over the next five years. Challenges often involve establishing oneself in the market, especially for those wanting to start their own business or work with more artistic and niche products. Technological advances and automation also influence the profession, requiring continuous skills development. However, there are opportunities for those who can combine traditional craftsmanship with modern design and new materials.
Tips for aspiring furniture makers
To succeed as a furniture maker, it is good to have a passion for form and details, as well as a lot of patience. A good sense of precision helps achieve high quality in daily work, while creativity allows for developing own solutions and design ideas. It is wise to seek internships early to build experience and networks within the industry, while curiosity about new materials and techniques makes it easier to adapt to changes. Initiative is important for finding own assignments or starting a business, and teamwork skills facilitate projects where multiple craftsmen work together. Finally, being flexible regarding tasks and work environment is an advantage, as the profession can involve everything from workshop work to customer visits and installations.
Key facts about furniture makers
- Education level: Vocational training or higher vocational education (1–3 years)
- Work environment: Workshop, studio, or customer site
- Work form: Usually full-time employment, sometimes self-employed
- Demand: Limited job opportunities, surplus of labor
- Number of job openings: 341 nationwide
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as a furniture maker, there are opportunities to take on greater responsibility as a supervisor, project manager, or teacher at a vocational college. Some choose to specialize in restoration, design, or start their own business in interior design and furniture production. According to the Employment Service's forecast, demand for the profession is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years, and job opportunities are assessed as limited nationally, with a surplus of trained workers. For those who combine craftsmanship skills with business acumen and innovation, there are opportunities to find niches and build a stable career, especially within specialized or artistic segments.
Frequently asked questions about furniture makers
- What does a furniture maker earn?
- The average salary for a furniture maker is 32 300 SEK per month. - What is the hourly wage for a furniture maker?
- A salaried furniture maker has an average hourly wage of 194 SEK. - Are there any differences in salary between men and women?
- Only salary data for men (32 300 SEK) is available, data for women is missing. - What are the future prospects for furniture makers?
- Job opportunities are limited and there is a surplus of labor, according to the Employment Service. - What education is required to become a furniture maker?
- Vocational training at high school or in vocational colleges focusing on fine carpentry is recommended. - What is the work environment like for furniture makers?
- The work environment varies between workshops, studios, and customer visits, involving both machinery and handwork. - How many job openings are available in the profession?
- There are 341 job openings nationwide within the profession.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 30800 kr | 31000 kr | |
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 30800 kr | 31000 kr | |
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 30800 kr | 31000 kr | |
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 31900 kr | 32300 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Cabinetmaker has the SSYK code 7522, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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