Upholsterer

About this occupation

Upholsterers provide objects such as furniture, panels, orthopaedic devices, fixtures or vehicle parts with padding or soft covering. They can install, repair or replace the upholstery of objects with materials such as fabrics, leather, suede or cotton. Upholsterers install the webbings and springs necessary to cover the material.

• 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.

Typical education (US)

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Preparation

Job Zone 2 of 5

Interests

Realistic, Artistic, Conventional

Top skills: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Monitoring

US median pay: US$46,340 a year (2025), 20,140 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Subjects this work relies on

How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).

• Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.0)

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Preparation needed

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Most common education (US)

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Education

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience

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.

Training

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.