Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
National median · BLS
$46,340
▲ +0.32%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$47,340
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
20,140
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Upholsterers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$31,690
25th
$37,340
Median (50th)
$46,340
75th
$54,580
90th — top pay
$63,770
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Upholsterers
BLS projects employment of upholsterers to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
22,700 → 22,200
-500 jobs
Projected change
-2.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
11.9% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What upholsterers do
Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.
Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.
Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.
Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.
Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.
Also called
Box Spring UpholstererUpholstered Goods CrafterUpholstererUpholstery CutterFurniture UpholstererInside UpholstererSofa Back UpholstererStaplerTrimmerUpholstery Trimmer
More job titles for this occupation (34)
Aircraft Seat UpholstererArm MakerArm Rest BuilderAutomobile Upholsterer (Auto Upholsterer)Automotive UpholstererBody Trimmer UpholstererCar Seat CovererCar Seat MakerCar Seat UpholstererCasket CovererCasket TrimmerChair Pad MakerChair UpholstererConvertible Top InstallerDining Chair Seat Cushion TrimmerFurniture Upholsterer ApprenticeFurniture Upholstery MechanicGimp TackerLimousine and Hearse UpholstererSeat Cover CutterSeat Cover InstallerSeat CovererSeat Covers TrimmerSeating UpholstererSlip Cover CutterSlipcover CutterTop and Trim WorkerTop InstallerUpholstery Auto TrimmerUpholstery MechanicUpholstery RepairerUpholstery SewerUpholstery TechnicianVinyl Top Installer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Upholsterers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $46,340.
