Frame maker
Also known as: frame-making machine tender, picture framer, frame fabricator, mirror framemaker, mirror frame restorer, frame creator
About this occupation
Frame makers build frames, mostly out of wood, for pictures and mirrors. They discuss the specifications with customers and build or adjust the frame accordingly. They cut, shape and join the wooden elements and treat them to obtain the desired colour and protect them from corrosion and fire. They cut and fit the glass into the frame. In some cases, they carve and decorate the frames. They may also repair, restore or reproduce older or antique frames.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply a protective layer
- sand wood
- match frames to pictures
- build picture frames
- organic building materials
- cut glass
- manipulate glass
- create wood joints
- apply wood finishes
- manipulate wood
- types of wood
- create smooth wood surface
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers (O*NET 49-3022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Select appropriate tools, safety equipment, and parts, according to job requirements.
- Prime all scratches on pinchwelds with primer and allow to dry.
- Remove all dirt, foreign matter, and loose glass from damaged areas, apply primer along windshield or window edges, and allow primer to dry.
- Check for and remove moisture or contamination in damaged areas and keep areas dry until repairs are complete.
- Apply a bead of urethane around the perimeter of each pinchweld and dress the remaining urethane on the pinchwelds so that it is of uniform level and thickness.
- Obtain windshields or windows for specific automobile makes and models from stock and examine them for defects prior to installation.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Installation, Speaking, Equipment Selection, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring
US median pay: US$47,630 a year (2025), 20,310 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.7)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Glaziers
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
- Rail Car Repairers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.