How to become an Upholsterer
Official title: Upholsterers
Also called: Upholsterer, Re-upholsterer, Chair upholsterer, Casket upholsterer, Custom upholsterer, Aircraft upholsterer, Furniture upholsterer, Automobile upholsterer, Automotive upholsterer, Industrial upholsterer, Production upholsterer, Preparation upholsterer
Upholsterers cover furniture, fixtures and similar items with fabric, leather or other upholstery materials. They are employed by furniture, aircraft, motor vehicle and other manufacturing companies, furniture retail outlets and repair shops or they may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Discuss upholstery fabric, colour, and style with customers and provide cost estimate for upholstering furniture or other items
- Lay out, measure and cut upholstery materials according to sketches or design specifications
- Replace worn-out webbing, springs and other furniture parts using hand and power tools
- Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery materials by hand to seam cushions and join sections of covering materials
- Install padding and underlays and fasten covering materials to furniture frames
- Tack, glue or sew ornamental trim, braids or buttons on upholstered items
- Lay out, cut, fabricate and install upholstery in aircrafts, motor vehicles, railway cars, boats and ships
- May repair furniture frames and refinish wood surfaces
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair or Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required. Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship. Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair or Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $43,797 a year The middle half earn $39,000 to $50,700.
- About 4,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 4,100 are projected by 2033. (+2.5%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Upholsterer?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair or Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required. Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
How much does an Upholsterer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $43,797 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,000 to $50,700.
Is an Upholsterer a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2033, from about 4,000 to about 4,100 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an Upholsterer?
Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Apprenticeship.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03