Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Upholsterers work in a niche trade with a defined national footprint and moderate earning levels. National employment stands at 23,000, with a national median annual salary of $46,190. The role typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to people who do not plan to complete a four-year degree. Success in this field draws on a blend of fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, and creativity and innovation. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and project management also matter, reflecting the need to work with clients and manage projects from start to finish. While national projected employment growth is -1.8%, there are still 2,000 annual openings, showing ongoing turnover and replacement demand. Opportunity varies by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher salaries or stronger CareerGPS opportunity scores. For students, career changers, or hands-on professionals, this trade offers a specialized path combining craftsmanship, problem-solving, and client-focused work.
Upholsterers earn a national median annual salary of $46,190, placing this trade in a moderate income range. Pay can differ by state and metro area. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Washington reports the highest listed median salary at $55,970, followed by California at $48,580 and Massachusetts at $48,380. New York’s median salary is $47,320, while Colorado’s is $42,240. Metro-area data show even higher medians in some locations: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $57,610, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $57,560. These figures indicate that certain metro areas within high-opportunity states may offer stronger earning potential than the national median. Because salaries vary by region, upholsterers considering relocation can use these median salary figures to target areas that better match their income goals and cost-of-living needs.
Nationally, employment for upholsterers is 23,000, with a projected employment growth rate of -1.8%. This indicates a slight decline in overall employment levels over the projection period. However, there are still 2,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing replacement needs as workers change jobs, retire, or leave the occupation. The combination of negative projected growth and continuing annual openings suggests that while the total number of positions may decrease modestly over time, individuals will still find opportunities to enter or move within the field. Because the projected growth rate of -1.8% is consistent across the listed states and metro areas, regional labor-market conditions for upholsterers appear broadly similar from a growth perspective. Job seekers should be aware that competition for positions may persist, making skills such as fine motor ability, mechanical aptitude, customer service, and project management particularly important in standing out for available roles.
Location plays a meaningful role in opportunity for upholsterers. Among states, California has the highest CareerGPS opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $48,580 and employment of 1,640. Massachusetts and New York follow closely with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $48,380 and $47,320, respectively. Washington combines a relatively high median salary of $55,970 with an opportunity score of 56.29, while Colorado posts a median salary of $42,240 and an opportunity score of 56.97. All listed states share the same projected growth rate of -1.8%, so differences in opportunity largely come from salary and current employment levels. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with very high CareerGPS opportunity scores of 77.42 and 77.27. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers one of the highest reported median salaries at $57,610. These patterns show that specific metros within high-scoring states may provide particularly strong conditions for upholsterers.
The typical education requirement for upholsterers is a high school diploma or equivalent, which opens the field to individuals who want to enter a skilled trade without pursuing a longer postsecondary program. Within this educational baseline, skill development is central. Key skills include fine motor ability and physical strength and stamina, reflecting the hands-on, physically demanding nature of the work. Mechanical skills and mathematics support accurate, precise work and problem-solving. Creativity and innovation are also important, highlighting the role of design thinking and customization. On the business and client side, customer service, interpersonal skills, and leadership help upholsterers work effectively with clients and colleagues, while project management skills support planning and completing jobs efficiently. Critical and analytical thinking underpins decision-making across all aspects of the role. Together, this mix of practical, cognitive, and interpersonal skills defines the core preparation needed to build and sustain a career as an upholsterer.
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