Annual Salary
£15,000 to £30,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Arts & crafts or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Arts & crafts or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Upholsterers pad, cover and re-cover furniture with materials like leather, suede or cotton.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: freelance / self-employed; managing your own hours
There will be
4.8% fewer Upholsterer jobs in 2027.
In this job you could:
You could work in a workshop, in a factory, at a client's business or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be physically demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course, like a:
Courses like these may be useful when looking for a trainee upholsterer job with a company.
You'll usually need:
You could do a furniture manufacturer intermediate apprenticeship or upholsterer advanced apprenticeship.
These typically take 24 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study.
You'll usually need:
You may be able to get work as a trainee upholsterer, without any experience. You would then do qualifications and get experience on the job.
You can train for upholstery qualifications with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers. These may be useful when looking for a job or help if you're looking to set up your own business.
You could join the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF).
With experience, you could move into a supervisory or management position.
You could specialise in re-upholstering antique furniture or work in interior design.
You could become self-employed and set up your own upholstery business.
You could teach your upholstery skills to apprentices and students in further education.
Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education.
The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) has more information on upholstery qualifications.
You can find out more about working in upholstery from Creative Choices.
You'll need: