Upholsterers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Mean (average) | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| 90th percentile | $63,770 | $30.66 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Upholsterers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 42 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,270 | $30,850 | $67,410 | 120 | 0.44 |
| Arizona | $41,860 | $35,310 | $59,600 | 180 | 0.42 |
| Arkansas | $43,660 | $30,650 | $65,240 | 210 | 1.22 |
| California | $48,580 | $37,710 | $62,810 | 1,640 | 0.7 |
| Colorado | $42,240 | $35,500 | $60,890 | 160 | 0.42 |
| Connecticut | $50,870 | $40,120 | $75,610 | 210 | 0.97 |
| Delaware | $49,860 | $40,120 | $82,000 | 40 | 0.66 |
| Florida | $37,840 | $31,670 | $56,470 | 1,530 | 1.19 |
| Georgia | $50,760 | $29,320 | $73,480 | 780 | 1.23 |
| Hawaii | $57,390 | $30,610 | $80,370 | 30 | 0.4 |
| Idaho | $39,730 | $28,240 | $49,900 | 190 | 1.74 |
| Illinois | $42,450 | $34,300 | $60,200 | 250 | 0.32 |
| Indiana | $45,080 | $35,020 | $58,550 | 1,400 | 3.37 |
| Iowa | $42,610 | $31,660 | $52,980 | 80 | 0.38 |
| Kansas | $43,260 | $33,390 | $64,810 | 260 | 1.39 |
| Kentucky | $41,690 | $38,020 | $45,090 | 80 | 0.32 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | $33,920 | $57,290 | 80 | 0.31 |
| Maryland | $50,270 | $38,550 | $63,430 | 200 | 0.57 |
| Massachusetts | $48,380 | $40,120 | $77,050 | 150 | 0.32 |
| Michigan | $44,890 | $36,770 | $60,300 | 500 | 0.88 |
| Minnesota | $48,810 | $43,680 | $58,630 | 60 | 0.15 |
| Mississippi | $44,930 | $32,070 | $50,880 | 2,410 | 16.01 |
| Missouri | $29,990 | $28,600 | $51,910 | ||
| Montana | $41,600 | $37,250 | $59,280 | 40 | 0.68 |
| Nebraska | $29,960 | $28,520 | $53,110 | 110 | 0.86 |
| Nevada | $49,880 | $24,960 | $71,030 | 220 | 1.09 |
| New Jersey | $42,640 | $36,250 | $74,480 | 410 | 0.74 |
| New York | $47,320 | $35,300 | $81,670 | 480 | 0.38 |
| North Carolina | $50,600 | $38,270 | $74,490 | 4,050 | 6.33 |
| North Dakota | $52,420 | $37,340 | $65,530 | ||
| Ohio | $39,420 | $27,310 | $57,980 | 380 | 0.53 |
| Oklahoma | $38,020 | $28,490 | $88,700 | 150 | 0.69 |
| Oregon | $48,560 | $38,120 | $58,290 | 250 | 0.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,860 | $31,520 | $60,050 | 280 | 0.35 |
| Rhode Island | $63,360 | $57,030 | $63,360 | 30 | 0.52 |
| South Carolina | $38,880 | $33,210 | $56,590 | 140 | 0.48 |
| Tennessee | $38,020 | $29,580 | $50,610 | 460 | 1.07 |
| Texas | $42,930 | $29,360 | $61,730 | 710 | 0.39 |
| Utah | $44,590 | $32,570 | $60,680 | 90 | 0.4 |
| Virginia | $31,950 | $26,640 | $59,270 | 340 | 0.64 |
| Washington | $55,970 | $44,250 | $84,480 | 200 | 0.43 |
| Wisconsin | $47,010 | $26,850 | $71,210 | 260 | 0.67 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for upholsterers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 11.9%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for upholsterers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Upholstery/Upholsterer CIP 48.0303
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- LibreOffice Draw
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Box Spring Upholsterer, Furniture Upholsterer, Inside Upholsterer, Sofa Back Upholsterer, Stapler, Trimmer, Upholstered Goods Crafter, Upholsterer, Upholstery Cutter, Upholstery Trimmer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do upholsterers make?
The national median annual wage for upholsterers was $46,340 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,690 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,770. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do upholsterers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is upholsterers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of upholsterers to change -2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay upholsterers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Rhode Island ($63,360), Hawaii ($57,390), Washington ($55,970). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.