by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 5 U.S. colleges awarded 28 degrees and certificates in Upholstery/Upholsterer. Graduates earn a median $18,872 one year after completing, rising to $27,465 after four years.
A major in Upholstery/Upholsterer explores Upholstery/upholsterer. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Install Springs, Filling, Padding, Covering And Finishing On Items Such As Furniture, Automobile Seats, Caskets, Mattresses, And Bedsprings.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., upholstery/upholsterer draws strong interest, with 28 degrees awarded annually. 5 colleges award upholstery/upholsterer degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 10.
All 28 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 39% of upholstery/upholsterer degrees and certificates in the latest year (11 of 28). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (14) and White (10).
O*NET rates Critical Thinking the most important skill for jobs related to upholstery/upholsterer, at 3.5 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Production and Processing, Design and Customer and Personal Service. The most important abilities are Manual Dexterity, Arm-Hand Steadiness and Finger Dexterity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an upholstery/upholsterer degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 28 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to upholstery/upholsterer, at 56.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 56.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 43.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Upholstery/Upholsterer, with an average median salary of $34,327; the strongest outlook belongs to Upholsterers, at 3.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Furniture Upholstery Mechanic, Upholstery Technician, Car Seat Upholsterer and Top and Trim Worker.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to upholstery/upholsterer, at 799,734.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Upholsterers | 799,734 | 3.5% |
Upholstery/Upholsterer graduates earn a median $18,872 one year after completing their program, $27,465 after four years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $18,872 |
| 4 years | $27,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to upholstery/upholsterer, with a median salary of $34,327.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Upholsterers | $34,327 |
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