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Upholsterers in Illinois

Considering working as an Upholsterers in Illinois? Below are the key facts. Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.

What do Upholsterers Make in Illinois?

For upholsterers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $42,290 per year (or about $20.33/hour).Earnings range from $33,880 at the 10th percentile to $58,290 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$33,880	$16.29
25th percentile	$35,830	$17.22
Median (50th)	$42,290	$20.33
75th percentile	$46,540	$22.38
90th percentile	$58,290	$28.02

The job concentration index in Illinois nationwide is 0.50, indicating fewer upholsterers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, upholsterers earn a median of $34,327 per year ($16.50/hour), above the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 772,524 upholsterers nationwide. In Illinois alone, around 410 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 290 upholsterers.

Top Illinois Metros for Upholsterers

The largest metro-area employers of upholsterers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	390	$42,960

Top States for Upholsterers Employment

View the states that employ the most upholsterers work.

State	Number Employed
North Carolina	3,860
Mississippi	2,480
California	1,880
Indiana	1,370
Florida	1,370
Georgia	900
Texas	730
Michigan	690
Ohio	660
New York	530
Tennessee	420
Illinois	410
Pennsylvania	410
Washington	400
Colorado	380
Missouri	380
Arizona	370
Nevada	360
Virginia	360
Oregon	300

Highest-Paying States for Upholsterers

Where upholsterers earn the most: upholsterers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Minnesota	$56,840
Colorado	$55,990
New Jersey	$55,290
Washington	$51,610
North Dakota	$51,370
Nebraska	$51,240
North Carolina	$50,140
Iowa	$49,670
Maryland	$49,510
Georgia	$49,120

Skills

Top upholsterers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for upholsterers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
• Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.
• Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
• Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.
• Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
• Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.
• Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.
• Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.
• Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.
• Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.
• Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.
• Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Getting Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Thinking Creatively
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

• Leatherworking & Upholstery

Related Careers

Careers similar to upholsterers include:

• Carpenters
• Carpet Installers
• Automotive Body and Related Repairers
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators

Also Known As

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, Casket Coverer, Casket Trimmer, Chair Pad Maker, Chair Upholsterer, Convertible Top Installer.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-6093.00