What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Upholsterers in the U.S. earn more than $46,340 a year — the middle 80% land between $31,690 and $63,770. About 20,140 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Upholsterers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$46,340typical pay / year
20,140people in this work
$63,770+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing5
Install foam and batting on furniture
+Install firm foam cores and two layers of batting into the sofa frame, trim to the seat and back dimensions,…
Install foam and batting on furniture
+Install firm foam cores and two layers of batting into the sofa frame, trim to the seat and back dimensions, tack the batting smooth around corners, and staple securely so cushions sit level and seams pull evenly within this afternoon's service window.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Examine upholstery to identify damage or defects
+Inspect the armchair and ottoman for tears, compressed fills, broken springs, loose webbing, stains and frame…
Examine upholstery to identify damage or defects
+Inspect the armchair and ottoman for tears, compressed fills, broken springs, loose webbing, stains and frame wobble, photograph each defect, note repair priority and estimate needed materials so I can tell Maria in sales what to charge.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Smooth out imperfections in upholstery
+Work the seat cover and foam to remove dimples and ridges, redistribute batting, retack at the perimeter and…
Smooth out imperfections in upholstery
+Work the seat cover and foam to remove dimples and ridges, redistribute batting, retack at the perimeter and steam the fabric where needed until the surface is flat and the pattern aligns with the frame before final staple trim.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Install and repair webbing and springs
+Remove old webbing, measure and cut replacement webbing to length, weave and tension across the chair base,…
Install and repair webbing and springs
+Remove old webbing, measure and cut replacement webbing to length, weave and tension across the chair base, install new corner springs where needed, and secure all fastenings so the seat no longer sags for the Saturday pickup.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Measure and cut fabric or leather
+Measure the sofa panels from seam to seam, add seam allowances, mark patterns on the hide and yardage, then…
Measure and cut fabric or leather
+Measure the sofa panels from seam to seam, add seam allowances, mark patterns on the hide and yardage, then cut each piece square to the grain so joins sit where the client requested for Tuesday upholstery stitching.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record1
Sew, glue, and nail fabric into place
+Sew the replacement covers to the agreed seam specs, glue reinforcements at stress points, and tack and nail…
Sew, glue, and nail fabric into place
+Sew the replacement covers to the agreed seam specs, glue reinforcements at stress points, and tack and nail the upholstery into the frame in sequence so edges are tight, corners neat and the client can collect the chair on Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Perform upholstery repair
+Repair the torn living-room sofa seat: remove the old webbing and foam, patch the frame where the spring tabs…
Perform upholstery repair
+Repair the torn living-room sofa seat: remove the old webbing and foam, patch the frame where the spring tabs pulled out, replace foam to match original density, restitch the cover with welt, and test for even tension before I call the owner.
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Upholstery tools
+Inventory the shop's hand and power tools, note which staple guns, tack hammers, webbing stretchers and…
Upholstery tools
+Inventory the shop's hand and power tools, note which staple guns, tack hammers, webbing stretchers and sewing machines need service or replacement, estimate costs and list priority purchases to present at Friday's supplier meeting.
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Estimate job hours and material needs
+Estimate hours and materials for the three-seat Chesterfield repair at 42 Elm Street: measure springs,…
Estimate job hours and material needs
+Estimate hours and materials for the three-seat Chesterfield repair at 42 Elm Street: measure springs, batting, foam, and fabric yardage, itemise labor by task, flag any reclaimed materials, and deliver a customer-ready quote by Thursday afternoon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
+Fit, stretch, and secure new upholstery on the oak recliner frame at the workshop using hog rings, webbing…
Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
+Fit, stretch, and secure new upholstery on the oak recliner frame at the workshop using hog rings, webbing and staples, glue stressed seams, trim excess, and leave the piece ready for client pickup by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Pick up and deliver furniture.
+Pick up the settee from Mrs. Alvarez at 9am on Friday, bring moving blankets, tie-downs and two helpers, load…
Pick up and deliver furniture.
+Pick up the settee from Mrs. Alvarez at 9am on Friday, bring moving blankets, tie-downs and two helpers, load on the van, return to workshop and photograph condition on arrival for delivery booking next week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.
+Bind the cut linen edges for the dining bench cushions with cotton twill tape, apply seam sealant where…
Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.
+Bind the cut linen edges for the dining bench cushions with cotton twill tape, apply seam sealant where needed, press the binding, and trim so the cushions do not ravel before upholstery assembly tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.
+Meet with Claire, the interior designer, at 11am Wednesday to review fabric swatches, confirm foam densities…
Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.
+Meet with Claire, the interior designer, at 11am Wednesday to review fabric swatches, confirm foam densities and trim choices, note any lead times, and agree delivery schedule for the living room suite.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Conduct quality checks on finished products
+Carry out a quality check on the finished wingback: inspect seams, stitching tension, foam resilience,…
Conduct quality checks on finished products
+Carry out a quality check on the finished wingback: inspect seams, stitching tension, foam resilience, webbing pull, and staple concealment; photograph any defects, log remedies, and approve for dispatch by end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Reattach or replace springs and padding
+Remove the seat cover, inspect and either re-tie the original coil springs or fit new serpentine springs,…
Reattach or replace springs and padding
+Remove the seat cover, inspect and either re-tie the original coil springs or fit new serpentine springs, pack with new horsehair and foam so the seat sits level, then staple the cover back and leave a neat trim.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Refinish wooden surfaces of furniture
+Strip existing finish, repair nicks and loose joints, sand to smooth, apply stain to match the original tone…
Refinish wooden surfaces of furniture
+Strip existing finish, repair nicks and loose joints, sand to smooth, apply stain to match the original tone and seal with two coats of hard varnish so the frame is ready for reupholstery next week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Work with materials like hessians, linen scrims, and wadding
+Cut and mark the hessian base, stitch and tension the linen scrim over the springs, pad with wadding to the…
Work with materials like hessians, linen scrims, and wadding
+Cut and mark the hessian base, stitch and tension the linen scrim over the springs, pad with wadding to the pattern lines and tack in place so the profile matches the original seat shape.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Employ synthetic materials such as dacron and vinyl
+Measure panels, cut dacron to the seat curves, glue and stitch vinyl facings where high wear will occur, and…
Employ synthetic materials such as dacron and vinyl
+Measure panels, cut dacron to the seat curves, glue and stitch vinyl facings where high wear will occur, and finish seams so the cover stretches smoothly without puckers.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Upholstery fillings
+Match foam density to the client’s comfort request, layer fillers to the design profile, skive edges for a…
Upholstery fillings
+Match foam density to the client’s comfort request, layer fillers to the design profile, skive edges for a tidy fold and secure all layers with hog rings so the final feel meets the spec.
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Provide customized upholstery
+Measure the piece, draft a bespoke pattern, quote the client for fabric, labour and trimmings, then cut and…
Provide customized upholstery
+Measure the piece, draft a bespoke pattern, quote the client for fabric, labour and trimmings, then cut and assemble the new cover to the frame so the piece matches the client’s requested finish and fit.
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
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The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses