Furniture Making Degrees: Associate, Bachelor's & Online Class Info

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Associate and bachelor's degrees that include courses in furniture making can lead to careers in design, crafts, manufacturing or industrial engineering. Get the truth about requirements, courses and program options to find out what you can do with your degree.
  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

Studying Furniture Making: Degrees at a Glance

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Furniture making includes the efforts of artisans, designers and manufacturers who use materials such as wood, fabric, metal and plastic to produce furniture. Preparation for a career in furniture making can range from vocational training to apprenticeships to certificate, associate degree and bachelor's degree programs. In a furniture design, furniture manufacturing, fine woodworking or furniture making degree program, you might learn woodworking, cabinetmaking or upholstering, custom crafting and design or industrial engineering for furniture manufacturing. Specialized on-campus bench and machine workshops, studios and testing facilities may be open to you. As a furniture maker, you could work for small to large companies, design studios or for yourself.

Associate degree programs might help you work in a studio dedicated to custom, architectural or fine furniture making. With a bachelor's degree, you might be a production manager in a furniture manufacturing facility or a furniture designer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that employment growth in general would increase 14% from 2010-2020. Furniture design or high-end craft skills could be helpful, since opportunities for industrial managers may grow only 6% as furniture manufacturing continues to move overseas. Income for business owners, artisans and designers who do custom work is difficult to determine but could be higher than production-based incomes like those below.

Associate Bachelor's
Who is this degree for? Individuals who want an entry-level position in a furniture making field Individuals interested in management positions or employment advancement
Common Career Paths - Cabinetmaker and bench carpenter ($31,000)*
- Upholsterer ($30,000)*
- First-line supervisor of production workers ($47,000)*
- Master craftsperson in an academic environment (salary unavailable)
- Industrial designer ($61,000)*
- Industrial production manager ($88,000)*
- Furniture designer ($29,000-$95,000)**
- Sales manager ($102,000)*
Time to Completion 1-2 years, full-time 4-5 years, full-time
Common Graduation Requirements - Typically 60-70 credits, including major area subjects and liberal arts core requirements
- Internship
- Approximately 120 credits
- Internship or capstone project
Prerequisites High school diploma or GED High school diploma or GED
Online Availability Limited online courses may be available Some online courses may be available

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011 median wages), **PayScale.com (2012 total pay range, including salary and bonuses, tips, commission, overtime wages and profit sharing).

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  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

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