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Upholsterer: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $31,690lowest 10% earn less
- $37,34025th percentile
- $46,340median
- $54,58075th percentile
- $63,770top 10% earn more
Upholsterers had a median pay of $46,340 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -2.3%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,700[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do upholsterers make?
In May 2025 the median pay for upholsterers was $46,340 a year, or $22.28 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $47,340 a year, or $22.76 an hour[7].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,690 a year, and the 25th percentile was $37,340[3]. The 75th percentile was $54,580 and the 90th was $63,770[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $15.24 and the 90th was $30.66[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].
The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4]. The median for upholsterers was lower than that[1][4].
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10]. About 11.9% of upholsterers were self-employed in 2025[11].
Pay by state and city
Among the 42 states with published data, Rhode Island had the highest median at $63,360, followed by Hawaii at $57,390 and Washington at $55,970[12]. Rhode Island and Hawaii each had 30 jobs[12]. Nebraska had the lowest median in the list at $29,960[12].
North Carolina had the most jobs at 4,050, followed by Mississippi at 2,410 and California at 1,640[13]. Florida had 1,530 and Indiana had 1,400[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had the highest median at $65,140, followed by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC at $59,700[14]. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton also had the most jobs at 2,220[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 940 jobs, and Greensboro-High Point had 750[15].
Show median pay in 42 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island[12] | $63,360 | 30 |
| Hawaii | $57,390 | 30 |
| Washington | $55,970 | 200 |
| North Dakota | $52,420 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $50,870 | 210 |
| Georgia | $50,760 | 780 |
| North Carolina | $50,600 | 4,050 |
| Maryland | $50,270 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 | 80 |
| Nevada | $49,880 | 220 |
| Delaware | $49,860 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $48,810 | 60 |
| California | $48,580 | 1,640 |
| Oregon | $48,560 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $48,380 | 150 |
| New York | $47,320 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $47,010 | 260 |
| Indiana | $45,080 | 1,400 |
| Mississippi | $44,930 | 2,410 |
| Michigan | $44,890 | 500 |
| Utah | $44,590 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $43,660 | 210 |
| Kansas | $43,260 | 260 |
| Texas | $42,930 | 710 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,860 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $42,640 | 410 |
| Iowa | $42,610 | 80 |
| Illinois | $42,450 | 250 |
| Colorado | $42,240 | 160 |
| Arizona | $41,860 | 180 |
| Kentucky | $41,690 | 80 |
| Montana | $41,600 | 40 |
| Idaho | $39,730 | 190 |
| Ohio | $39,420 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $38,880 | 140 |
| Alabama | $38,270 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $38,020 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $38,020 | 460 |
| Florida | $37,840 | 1,530 |
| Virginia | $31,950 | 340 |
| Missouri | $29,990 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $29,960 | 110 |
How to become an upholsterer
The facts describe a route built on a diploma and on-the-job learning.
- First: finish high school or get an equivalent. BLS lists this as the typical entry education[6].
- Next: you do not need related work experience[6].
- Then: expect moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The facts do not say how long that is.
In an ONET survey of 17 workers, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, and 44% said less than a high school diploma[16]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough picture. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[17].
What upholsterers do
O*NET describes the work as making, repairing or replacing upholstery for household furniture or vehicles[18]. Typical tasks include:
- Securing covering material onto frames with hand tools, power tools, glue or staples[19].
- Measuring and cutting new covering from patterns and design specifications[19].
- Shaping furniture with padding such as foam, cotton or felt[19].
- Reading work orders to work out which materials are needed and how much[19].
- Looking over frames, springs and webbing for defects[19].
- Taking off old covering, webbing and worn springs[19].
- Sewing tears and adding trim, buttons and other accessories[19].
Sample job titles from workers include furniture upholsterer, trimmer and upholstered goods crafter[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,700 to 22,200 jobs[2]. That compares with projected growth of 3.5% for all occupations[21]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS still expects about 1,700 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who switch to other occupations, and new jobs are included too[5]. Each year 3.9% of workers leave the labor force and 3.7% move to a different occupation[22].
OEWS counted about 20,140 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[23]. This differs from the projection count because the projection count includes the self-employed[2].
Is it a good fit?
The entry path asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. Median pay was a little below the all-occupations median, but the range was wide[1][3][4]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly[2]. Jobs are concentrated in North Carolina, Mississippi and California[13]. Pay differs by state, so check the local figure[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an upholsterer make an hour?
- The median was $22.28 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $22.76[1][7].
- What education do you need to be an upholsterer?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is upholstery in demand?
- BLS projects employment to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, though about 1,700 openings a year are expected[2][5].
- What is the highest paying state for upholsterers?
- Rhode Island had the highest median at $63,360 a year, based on 30 jobs[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Upholsterers in the US was $46,340 per year and $22.28 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Upholsterers is projected to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 22,700 to 22,200 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Upholsterers: 10th percentile $31,690, 25th percentile $37,340, 75th percentile $54,580, 90th percentile $63,770. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Upholsterers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Upholsterers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Upholsterers was $47,340 per year and $22.76 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Upholsterers: 10th percentile $15.24, 25th percentile $17.95, 75th percentile $26.24, 90th percentile $30.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 11.9% of Upholsterers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Upholsterers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Upholsterers jobs: North Carolina 4,050; Mississippi 2,410; California 1,640; Florida 1,530; Indiana 1,400. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Upholsterers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $65,140; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $59,700; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $57,610; Kansas City, MO-KS $49,110; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,050; Greensboro-High Point, NC $49,040; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $49,000; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $48,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Upholsterers jobs: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 2,220 (median $59,700); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 940 (median $47,630); Greensboro-High Point, NC 750 (median $49,040); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 620 (median $46,890); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 570 (median $37,840); Winston-Salem, NC 430 (median $38,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-6093.00 survey of workers (17 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Less than a High School Diploma 44% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-6093.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Upholsterers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Upholsterers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-6093.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Box Spring Upholsterer, Furniture Upholsterer, Inside Upholsterer, Sofa Back Upholsterer, Stapler, Trimmer, Upholstered Goods Crafter, Upholsterer. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Upholsterers: 3.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 20,140 people were employed as Upholsterers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.