# Upholsterers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/upholsterers
- SOC code: 51-6093.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $46,340 (10th percentile $31,690, 90th percentile $63,770)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.3%
- Openings a year: 1,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RAC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 97 |
| Investigative (I) | 14 |
| Artistic (A) | 32 |
| Social (S) | 6 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 32 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 75/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Getting Information (importance 71/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 66/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 66/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 64/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 63/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 62/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 62/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Speaking, Time Management, Operations Monitoring

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Design, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Education and Training, Mathematics, Building and Construction, Personnel and Human Resources, Administration and Management, English Language

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- Leatherworking and Upholstery (CIP 4803, 9 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Furniture Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furniture-finishers): $44,540 median pay
- [Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cabinetmakers-and-bench-carpenters): $46,680 median pay
- [Sewers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewers-hand): $36,480 median pay
- [Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/shoe-and-leather-workers-and-repairers): $37,800 median pay
- [Sewing Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewing-machine-operators): $36,670 median pay
- [Carpet Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/carpet-installers): $50,340 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.