Upholsterers Career, Salary and Skills
Upholsterers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $46,340 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 20,140. Wage data is published for 108 locations.
Occupation description
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
O*NET code
51-6093.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$46,340
Hourly median
$22.28
Employment
20,140
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.50 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Intuit QuickBooks
- LibreOffice Draw
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Upholsterers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Upholsterers Salary in NCMedian $50,600 · Employment 4,050
- Upholsterers Salary in MSMedian $44,930 · Employment 2,410
- Upholsterers Salary in Hickory, NCMedian $59,700 · Employment 2,220
- Upholsterers Salary in CAMedian $48,580 · Employment 1,640
- Upholsterers Salary in FLMedian $37,840 · Employment 1,530
- Upholsterers Salary in INMedian $45,080 · Employment 1,400
- Upholsterers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $47,630 · Employment 940
- Upholsterers Salary in GAMedian $50,760 · Employment 780
- Upholsterers Salary in Greensboro, NCMedian $49,040 · Employment 750
- Upholsterers Salary in TXMedian $42,930 · Employment 710
- Upholsterers Salary in New York, NYMedian $46,890 · Employment 620
- Upholsterers Salary in Miami, FLMedian $37,840 · Employment 570
Related careers
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, ManufacturingNational median $46,170
- Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsNational median $46,880
- Automotive Body and Related RepairersNational median $54,890
- Model Makers, WoodNational median $56,550
- CarpentersNational median $60,580
- Cutters and Trimmers, HandNational median $38,020
- Shoe Machine Operators and TendersNational median $35,650
- Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticNational median $63,870
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.