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Upholsterers in Kentucky
Considering working as an Upholsterers in Kentucky? Below are the key facts. Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
What do Upholsterers Make in Kentucky?
For a upholsterers working in Kentucky, the median annual wage is $43,670 per year (or roughly $20.99/hour).Annual wages span from $37,370 at the 10th percentile to $47,310 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,370 | $17.96 |
| 25th percentile | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Median (50th) | $43,670 | $20.99 |
| 75th percentile | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| 90th percentile | $47,310 | $22.74 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Kentucky relative to the national average — is 0.47, meaning fewer upholsterers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, upholsterers earn a median of $34,327 per year ($16.50/hour), exceeding the Kentucky median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 772,524 upholsterers in the U.S.. In Kentucky alone, about 130 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 290 upholsterers.
Top States for Upholsterers Employment
The table below shows the states where 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
The highest-paying states for 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
Key upholsterers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for upholsterers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, upholsterers typically:
- 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?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Related occupations 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