Overview
Upholsterers cover furniture, fixtures and similar items with fabric, leather or other upholstery materials. They are employed by furniture, aircraft, motor vehicle and other manufacturing companies, furniture retail outlets and repair shops or they may be self-employed.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Discuss upholstery fabric, colour, and style with customers and provide cost estimate for upholstering furniture or other items
Lay out, measure and cut upholstery materials according to sketches or design specifications
Replace worn-out webbing, springs and other furniture parts using hand and power tools
Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery materials by hand to seam cushions and join sections of covering materials
Install padding and underlays and fasten covering materials to furniture frames
Tack, glue or sew ornamental trim, braids or buttons on upholstered items
Lay out, cut, fabricate and install upholstery in aircrafts, motor vehicles, railway cars, boats and ships
May repair furniture frames and refinish wood surfaces
May make upholstery patterns from sketches, customer descriptions or blueprints
May install, fabricate, maintain and repair interior components of aircraft, such as seats, coverings, drapes, cargo nets, flooring, closets, bins and panels.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$34,934
$50,054
$68,825
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
71expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair or Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required.
Additional information
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No post-secondary education required
No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.