Production
Upholsterer
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
Median pay
$46,340
Growth to 2035
−2%
declining
Openings a year
1,700
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Upholsterer
$46,34010% earn under $31,690 · middle half $37,340–$54,580 · top 10% over $63,770
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Upholsterer
Dealing with the public
Rarely
Constantly
Unpleasant or angry people
Rarely
Constantly
Time pressure
Rarely
Constantly
Cost of a mistake
Minor
Severe
Freedom to make decisions
Little
A lot
Repeating the same tasks
Rarely
Constantly
Time sitting
Rarely
Constantly
Time standing
Rarely
Constantly
Hazardous conditions
Rarely
Constantly
Upholsterer: 22% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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 Upholsterer · Furniture Upholsterer · Inside Upholsterer · Sofa Back Upholsterer · Stapler · Trimmer · Upholstered Goods Crafter · Upholsterer
Outlook and AI
Upholsterers held 22,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 22,200 by 2035 (−2%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Upholsterer vs. Painting, coating, and decorating workers