Upholsterers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Upholsterers fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Upholsterers earn a median salary of $46,190 per year, ranking in the top 74% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.8% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do upholsterers earn?

The median annual wage for upholsterers is $46,190. That puts upholsterers at #599 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is upholsterers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for upholsterers is -1.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 22K positions in 2024 to 22K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do upholsterers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working upholsterers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
2. 2.Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
3. 3.Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.
4. 4.Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.
5. 5.Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.
6. 6.Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.
7. 7.Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
8. 8.Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.

Top skills for upholsterers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become upholsterer?

Upholsterers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about upholsterers