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Upholsterer Salary in the United States

How much does an Upholsterer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Upholsterer in the United States is $56,261 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, an Upholsterer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,664
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,516 to $62,753
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,285
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Upholsterer Salaries

An Upholsterer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Upholsterer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Upholsterer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,375
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,546
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,745
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,459
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,652
Levels Salary
Entry Level Upholsterer$54,375
Intermediate Level Upholsterer$54,546
Senior Level Upholsterer$56,745
Specialist Level Upholsterer$59,459
Expert Level Upholsterer$59,652
View as Graph

How Do Upholsterers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Upholsterers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $62,292.
  • California: $62,056.
  • Massachusetts: $61,229.

Top Paying Cities for Upholsterer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $70,962
  • San Francisco: $70,185
  • Oakland: $68,706

What Skills Can Increase an Upholsterer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.88% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Network Solutions (Mentioned in 5% Job Postings): Network Solutions offers everything you need to get online quickly. From website development to optimization, social media, online advertising and more, we'll have your business online in no time.
  • CNC (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): Numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.88%
Network Solutions 5%
CNC 1.24%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Upholsterer's salary.

  • Taking Ownership: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Taking Ownership $61,324
9%
Process Improvement $60,762
8%
Verbal Communication $59,074
5%
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Upholsterer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Upholsterer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $61,381. While startup companies pay approximate $52,003.

Upholsterer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $52,003
Growth Stage 51~500 $54,973
Established 501~5000 $59,293
Enterprise 5000+ $61,381

Upholsterer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Upholsterer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Upholsterer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Upholsterer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Upholsterer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$78,765$38.040%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$73,139$35.030%
Transportation$67,513$32.020%
Business Services$61,887$30.010%

How Education impacts an Upholsterer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Upholsterer enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Upholsterer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,984 and $59,962.

Upholsterer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Upholsterer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 11.1%
High School 66.7%
Associates 11.1%
Bachelors 11.1%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Upholsterer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Upholsterer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$50,516
Average $56,261/year
$62,753
$4,210
Average $4,688/month
$5,229
$971
Average $1,082/week
$1,207
$24
Average $27/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,753 $5,229 $1,207 $30
Average $56,261 $4,688 $1,082 $27
25th Percentile $50,516 $4,210 $971 $24

Most common benefits for Upholsterer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Upholsterer

Here are companies hiring for Upholsterer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Upholsterer

1. Where can an Upholsterer earn the most?

An Upholsterer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Upholsterer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Upholsterer is $70,962.

2. What is the highest pay for Upholsterer?

The highest pay for Upholsterer is $68,664.

3. What is the lowest pay for Upholsterer?

The lowest pay for Upholsterer is $45,285.

4. What are the responsibilities of Upholsterer?

Builds or rebuilds furniture by covering with materials such as leather, cotton or suede. Repairs wooden furniture pieces and refinishes surfaces. May require a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Upholsterer?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Upholsterer roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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