Career Overview
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
Also Known As
- Box Spring Upholsterer
- Upholstered Goods Crafter
- Upholsterer
- Upholstery Cutter
Alternate Job Titles
- Aircraft Seat Upholsterer
- Arm Maker
- Arm Rest Builder
- Automobile Upholsterer (Auto Upholsterer)
- Automotive Upholsterer
- Body Trimmer Upholsterer
- Box Spring Upholsterer
- Car Seat Coverer
- Car Seat Maker
- Car Seat Upholsterer
- Casket Coverer
- Casket Trimmer
- Chair Pad Maker
- Chair Upholsterer
- Convertible Top Installer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Manual Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Finger Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Visual Color Discrimination
- Multilimb Coordination
- Control Precision
- Visualization
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air compressors
- Air staple guns
- Arch punches
- Button machines
- Caning nippers
- Canvas pliers
- Clip remover tools
- Combination squares
- Cutting pads
- Door trim removers
- Duck bill pliers
- Fabric hole cutters
- Fabric punches
- Foam rubber cutters
- Glue guns
Work Environment
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $32,190 |
| Median | $46,190 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $63,600 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 20,990
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Furniture Finishers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $42,530
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,020
Sewers, Hand
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $33,760
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $35,950
Sewing Machine Operators
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $36,000
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.