by 

Elka 

Maria 

Torpey

Claudia Minicozzi has helped the Federal 

Government’s coinmaker turn money 

into art. 

As a custom framer in Washington, D.C., 

Claudia was part of a framing team that created 

an elaborate display of coins for the U.S. Mint. 

The shop in which she works also counts the 

White House and the Smithsonian Institution 

among its customers. “We do a lot of jobs for 

organizations and Government, mostly framing 

objects and presentation pieces,” says Claudia. 

Everyday customers needn’t have highprofile projects, though. Framers like Claudia 

put baby slippers, sports jerseys, antiques, and 

other personal keepsakes on display. More typical items include paintings, photos, and certificates. But whatever the object being preserved, 

the outcome is the same. “We help to make 

things look good,” says Claudia. 

Claudia’s work starts with a customer 

consultation. She helps customers select glass 

or Plexiglas; the molding or frame; and, if they 

want, a mat to surround the item. 

Spending a few minutes to an hour or more 

with customers, Claudia talks to them about 

their options, shows them samples, and explains 

costs. “If people are having trouble deciding 

what they want,” says Claudia, “I start by asking 

how things are framed in their house: Do they 

have black frames? Gold frames? Then, I’ll ask 

how they 

decorate: Do 

they prefer traditional or contemporary? 

These types of questions really help to narrow down 

the look that they want to create.” 

To further help her customers decide, Claudia 

might hold corner samples of frames up to the item. 

“You’re watching their reactions,” she says. “They 

might say something like, ‘That won’t do,’ or 

‘Wow, I like silver!’” 

Some framers now use computer software to create an image of how a finished product might look. 

But the projects that Claudia and her colleagues 

work on are so customized—involving nonstandard 

materials such as silk or linen, for example—that the 

technology wouldn’t be of much use. 

In addition to getting the perfect look, function 

is a consideration. One challenge to framing, says 

Claudia, is ensuring that the weight of the item will 

be supported when it is hung on a wall. Large or 

heavy items may require thicker molding, special 

backing, and sturdier wire to hang securely. 

Preserving the item might be another concern. 

To protect items from light or to reduce glare, framers can use certain types of glass; to prevent damage, 

they often recommend acid-free mats.

Many framers cut mats, and some even 

assemble the frames themselves. To finish the work, 

the framer carefully cleans the plastic or glass, often 

Elka Maria Torpey is a contributing editor to the OOQ, (202) 691-5719.

You’re a what?

34 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Spring 2007
From t-shirts to national treasures, almost anything can be 

displayed well by Claudia Minicozzi.

using a special tool or vacuum to make sure that dust 

and other particles don’t get inside. He or she then 

arranges the item or items to be framed, along with 

any matting being used, and inspects the piece one 

more time to check for imperfections. Finally, the 

framer attaches a backing and hanging fixtures to 

complete the job. 

Sometimes, a customer requests a type of material that isn’t in stock. In those cases, it’s often up to 

the framer to gauge how much of the material to purchase. Other tasks might include computer entry of 

project details, such as cost estimates and customer 

communication; setting up displays; and keeping the 

shop clean and neat. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 

doesn’t collect data on framers. But according to the 

Professional Picture Framers Association, there are 

about 12,000 retail frame shops nationwide. And the 

occupation is relatively easy to enter because, like 

most retail sales jobs, custom framing does not have 

rigid educational or training requirements.

Many of these workers’ tasks are comparable to 

those of retail salesworkers, who earned a median 

hourly wage of $9.20 in May 2005, according to 

BLS. But the work of framers is somewhat more 

specialized, which may lead to higher earnings. For 

example, industry sources suggest that workers who 

do advanced or museum-quality framing often 

earn more than others in the field. Supervisors 

and managers of these workers earn more, too. 

And owning a shop can mean more sporadic—

but significantly higher—earnings.

Claudia and other framers are on their feet 

most of the day, and they interact with people a 

lot. “It takes an outgoing personality,” Claudia 

says of her job. Having good listening skills, an 

artistic eye, and patience also come in handy. 

Most custom framers learn on the job. 

Many have a degree in art, although they are not 

required to have one. “It’s a good job for someone just out of art school,” says Claudia, “or for 

people who are retired and want to do something 

creative in their spare time.” 

Framing can be ideal for almost anyone who 

has an interest in art or who wants to work in an 

artistic environment. “It’s a lot of fun,” Claudia 

says. “We deal with some really special pieces.”

Many expensive items pass through a framer’s hands, but inexpensive ones are often just as 

valuable. “People come in with things that have 

been painted by family members, or something 

they got from a street artist for $10,” says Claudia. “Some of it’s really quite good.”

The range of quality may 

vary, but all the items that 

Claudia deals with are 

important in someone’s 

eyes. “You’d be surprised 

at the treasures people 

bring in,” Claudia says. 

And with her help, 

those treasures 

are protected 

for years 

to come.

Spring 2007 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 35