Upholstery
Quick Facts: Upholstery Training
Where it's offered
Upholstery programs are offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $18,872/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 11 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Upholstery — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 1 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 31/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Upholstery Graduates Do
Your career begins by learning a tangible craft. As an apprentice upholsterer, you’ll spend your days in a workshop, surrounded by bolts of fabric and the whir of sewing machines. You’ll learn to strip old furniture down to its frame, replace webbing and padding, and precisely fit new material using industrial staple guns. Or, you might focus on leather goods, repairing worn-out shoes and bags or crafting custom belts in a small studio, using awls and heavy-duty stitchers.
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With experience, you’ll move from simple repairs to full restorations, commanding higher pay as your speed and skill improve. Many experienced artisans become independent, specializing in high-demand niches like antique furniture, marine upholstery, or luxury leather restoration. The ultimate path for many is opening their own shop, where your reputation and business skills set the ceiling on your earnings. While the field isn't expanding, thousands of jobs open annually as master craftspeople retire. The intricate skill of restoring a worn armchair or hand-stitching a wallet is something that can't be automated or done remotely.
Students considering Upholstery also weigh Woodworking, Liberal Arts & Humanities, and Quality Control & Safety Technology — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 11 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Upholstery. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Automobile Upholsterer
RAPIDS 639 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $37K – $46,190 – $52K | -1.8% |
|
Bootmaker, Hand
RAPIDS 890 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Furniture Upholsterer
RAPIDS 213 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $37K – $46,190 – $52K | -1.8% |
|
Harness Maker
RAPIDS 245 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Leather Stamper
RAPIDS 935 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Ortho-Boot-Shoe Designer Maker
RAPIDS 910 |
10000 hrs
~5.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Saddle Maker
RAPIDS 487 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Shoe Repairer
RAPIDS 514 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Shoemaker, Custom
RAPIDS 812 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $29K – $35,950 – $41K | -3.8% |
|
Upholsterer
RAPIDS 97 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $37K – $46,190 – $52K | -1.8% |
|
Upholsterer, Inside
RAPIDS 606 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $37K – $46,190 – $52K | -1.8% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Upholstery Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Upholstery is offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Upholstery Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Upholstery programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institucion Chaviano de Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR |
33 31–33 |
Highest Earning Upholstery Programs
Schools where Upholstery graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Institucion Chaviano de Mayaguez | $18,872/yr | 33 |
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