Production

Upholsterers

8/100
#772 of 825
$46,340
median pay, U.S.
20,140
employed (2024)
-1.8%
growth, 2024–34
2,200
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is upholsterers a good career?

It scores 8/100 and ranks #772 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($46,340 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-1.8% through 2034)

What upholsterers earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. upholsterers earn between $37,340 and $54,580 a year.

Best-paying states

Rhode Island statewide
$63,360
Hawaii statewide
$57,390
Washington statewide
$55,970
North Dakota statewide
$52,420
Connecticut statewide
$50,870
Georgia statewide
$50,760
North Carolina statewide
$50,600
Maryland statewide
$50,270
Louisiana statewide
$49,920
Nevada statewide
$49,880
$20k $60k $100k

Best-paying metros

01 Seattle, WA $65,140
02 Providence, RI $63,360
03 Madison, WI $60,800
04 Hickory, NC $59,700
05 Bridgeport, CT $59,270
06 San Francisco, CA $57,610
07 San Jose, CA $57,560
08 Reno, NV $53,750

Strongest employment concentration

01 North Carolina 4,050
02 Mississippi 2,410
03 California 1,640
04 Florida 1,530
05 Indiana 1,400
06 Georgia 780

Live upholsterers jobs

No live upholsterers openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified upholsterers openings will appear here — each shown against the $46,340 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become an upholsterer

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

No formal educational credential · $34,890 median
No formal educational credential · $36,670 median
No formal educational credential · $35,060 median
Questions about becoming a upholsterer
How much do upholsterers make?

The national median wage is $46,340 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,340 and $54,580 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is upholsterers a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 8 of 100 and ranks #772 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -1.8% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a upholsterer?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do upholsterers earn the most?

Among states, Rhode Island pays the highest median ($63,360). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →