Home / Career Explorer / Production

Upholsterers

	Median Wage (USD, 2025)	Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
National Statistics	$46340	2200	-1.8%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$46340

Median Wage (USD, 2025)

2200

Projected Job Openings (2025-2035)

-1.8%

Projected Growth (2025-2035)

Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.

Experience Requirements Overview

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.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
Assemble garments or textile products.
Examine condition of property or products.
Attach decorative or functional accessories to products.
Repair furniture or upholstery.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
Cut fabrics.
Record operational or production data.
Estimate costs of products, services, or materials.
Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
Shape surfaces or edges of wood workpieces.
Sew clothing or other articles.
Operate sewing equipment.
Move furniture.
Repair textiles or apparel.
Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production.
Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
Design templates or patterns.
Exchange information with colleagues.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.
Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.
Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.
Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.
Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners.
Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers.
Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.
Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.
Maintain records of time required to perform each job.
Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates.
Pick up and deliver furniture.
Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.
Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.
Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired