Upholsterers
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
Also called: Aircraft Seat Upholsterer, Arm Maker, Arm Rest Builder, Automobile Upholsterer (Auto Upholsterer), Automotive Upholsterer, Body Trimmer Upholsterer
Median pay
$46,340
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,690 – $63,770
People employed
20,140
Holland code
RAC
Realistic · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 4.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 5.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 7.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 8.Do you prefer working indoors?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Upholsterers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (42 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What upholsterers do
- 01Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
- 02Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.
- 03Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
- 04Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.
- 05Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
- 06Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from upholsterers
- Furniture Finishers93% · −4%
- Carpet Installers87% · +9%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters82% · +11%
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic80% · 0%
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters79% · +1%
Change into upholsterers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Furniture Finishers93% · $44,540
- Carpet Installers87% · $50,340
- Floor Sanders and Finishers77% · $50,440
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters76% · $46,680
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall76% · $49,120
Majors that lead here
- Upholstery/Upholsterer
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.