Upholsterer

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Work Tasks

• Make new upholstered furniture and replace or repair old furniture and automobile upholstery
• Remove the old cover and padding and replace broken springs
• Measure and cut material for new coverings, sew them to the frame, and add trim like braids and buttons
• May pick up and drop off furniture, help customers pick new coverings, order supplies, and keep business records
• Work indoors for companies that make and repair furniture, furniture stores, auto upholstery shops, hotels, or for themselves
• Work with furniture, hammers, staple guns and removers, scissors, pliers, shears, tacks, glue, webbing, needles, sewing machines, fabrics, and trim

Salary, Size & Growth

• $41,000 average per year ($19.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (30,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and an apprenticeship in upholstery
• Skills/Courses: Courses in carpentry, shop, applied math; skills in cutting, fitting, and sewing fabric