Most U.S. refinishers bill $40 – $100 an hour for standard work, while highly specialized artisans command $150 +; the national mean hourly wage sits at $20.43 for shop employees. Knowing these benchmarks lets you quote jobs confidently—or decide when to DIY a flip and keep 85 percent of the resale price on Asherfield, where every buyer has already put down a 15 percent deposit. AngiBureau of Labor Statistics
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National wage snapshot
| Source | 10th % | Median | Mean | 90th % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS (2023) furniture finishers | $14.26 | $19.13 | $20.43 | $27.46 Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| ZipRecruiter (Apr 2025) restoration techs | $12.02 | $17.98 | — | $25.48 ZipRecruiter |
| Indeed (2025) shop woodworkers | — | $20.19 | — | — Job Search | Indeed |
| Salary.com (2025) floor & furniture restoration | — | $31.00 | — | — Salary |
Quick read: entry-level shop wages hover around $18–$22/hr; independent pros charge 2–5× that to cover overhead and profit.
What pushes rates higher (or lower)
- Skill & finish level – French polishing or antique conservation can justify $150–$250/hr. amyhowardfinishingschool.com
- Metro vs. rural – Austin quotes average $70+/hr, while small-town shops sit near $45. Manta
- Project size – Dining tables take longer prep and clamp shop space, so hourly minimums rise. Angi
- Shop overhead – Spray booths, dust-free rooms, and liability insurance add $10–$20/hr. Reddit
- Turnaround demand – “Rush” fees commonly add 25 %. Angi
How to set your own hourly rate
1 – Add your costs
- Tools & supplies (avg. $5/hr amortized)HomeAdvisor
- Rent & utilities (varies—use local numbers)
- Taxes & profit margin (aim 20 %)
2 – Check local market
Gather three competitor quotes; most pros still list $40–$100/hr for standard strip-and-refinish. Angi
3 – Price the value, not just time
If a specialty glaze raises resale by $400, quoting $120/hr for that step can still feel like a win to the client. amyhowardfinishingschool.com
DIY vs. hiring a pro
| Path | Cash outlay | Time | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY strip & refinish | $40–$60 supplies | 4–10 h | You have tools & want max profit. |
| Hire a pro @ $70/hr | $337–$920 avg. job | 0 h | Antiques, tight deadlines, or spray-booth quality. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Flip finished pieces on Asherfield (keep 85 %)
- Serious buyers only – 15 % deposit slashes no-shows. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Fast payout – remaining 85 % paid at pickup or delivery.
- Delivery badge – free-delivery listings lifted conversions 19 % in a furniture A/B test. Angi
- Zero listing fee – posts go live in minutes; edit price anytime.
Pro tip: upload a before/after carousel—high-quality images can raise sale price another 25 – 15%.
Internal links
- Furniture refinishing cost – full price overview
- Furniture painting price guide – materials & labor math
- Antique furniture restoration cost – specialty rates
- Furniture upcycling business – turn skills into income
- How to refinish wood furniture (beginners) – step-by-step DIY
- Back to the pricing & valuation pillar
FAQ
What’s a fair hourly rate for basic strip-and-refinish?
Most U.S. pros quote $40–$70/hr for standard work. Angi
How high can rates go for antiques?
Specialists often charge $100–$250/hr for museum-grade jobs. amyhowardfinishingschool.com
Do shops ever bill flat rates instead?
Yes—many quote per-piece but back-calculate at ~$70/hr. Angi
Is listing on Asherfield free?
Absolutely—Asherfield keeps only the buyer deposit; you receive 85 %.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Furniture Finishers, May 2023 Data Bureau of Labor Statistics
- ZipRecruiter, Furniture Restoration Salary (Apr 29 2025) ZipRecruiter
- Angi, Furniture Refinishing Cost Guide (Feb 2025) Angi
- Manta, Furniture Refinishing Cost – Austin (Mar 2025) Manta
- Indeed, Restoration Furniture Repair Woodworker Pay (2025) Job Search | Indeed
- Salary.com, Floor & Furniture Restoration Hourly Pay (2025) Salary
- Amy Howard Finishing School, Pricing Your Furniture Refinishing (2024) amyhowardfinishingschool.com
- HomeAdvisor, Furniture Refinishing Costs 2025 HomeAdvisor
- Reddit r/woodworking, Hourly Rate Thread (2024) Reddit
- EPA MSW Report, Furniture Waste 2018 (context) Angi
- GrowthRock, Free-Delivery Conversion Case Study (2019) Angi
- ConvertCart, Image Quality & Conversion (2024)
