Side-by-Side Comparison
Furniture Finishers leads 2–1| Metric | Furniture Finishers | Upholsterers |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 19.9% | 20.0% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 7th | 7th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 3 / 15 | 3 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $42,530 | $46,190 |
| Employment | 14K | 21K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Selling or Influencing Others
Finger Dexterity
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Getting Information
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Multilimb Coordination
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Furniture Finishers
28%
total discount
Upholsterers
28%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Furniture Finishers
3 of 15 at risk84%Select appropriate finishing ingredients such as paint, stain, lacquer, shellac, or varnish, depending on factors such as wood hardness and surface type.
84%Follow blueprints to produce specific designs.
65%Paint metal surfaces electrostatically, or by using a spray gun or other painting equipment.
49%Mix finish ingredients to obtain desired colors or shades.
47%Examine furniture to determine the extent of damage or deterioration, and to decide on the best method for repair or restoration.
Upholsterers
3 of 15 at risk88%Maintain records of time required to perform each job.
86%Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
55%Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.
47%Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
41%Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.
Wage Comparison
Upholsterers earns +$3,660(+9%) vs Furniture Finishers
Furniture FinishersUpholsterers
10th
$31,200$32,190
25th
$36,770$37,200
Median
$42,530$46,190
75th
$49,020$51,740
90th
$59,820$63,600
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Furniture Finishers2028–2035
Upholsterers2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Furniture Finishers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Upholsterers.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Furniture Finishers
$34,067
from $42,530
Upholsterers
$36,943
from $46,190
After adjusting for AI risk, Upholsterers offers $2,876 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Furniture
0
Unique to Upholsterers
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Creativity
Social Intelligence
Furniture FinishersUpholsterers