Upholsterers assemble, repair, or replace fabrics, springs, webbing (metal strips), padding, and other parts of upholstered products including furniture, caskets, mattresses, autos, and trucks.

  JOB DUTIES

Upholsterers may:

• Attach webbing to the frame of the product to form a mat that will hold the springs
• Secure springs to each other and to the webbing with wire or cords
• Cover springs with binding material, such as burlap or muslin, and cushioning material such as cotton, urethane foam, or latex
• Measure and cut upholstery fabric and attach it to the frame
• Sew or tack ornamental trim or buttons to the product
• Recondition previously upholstered items by repairing or replacing old parts including frames, webbing, springs, binding material, padding, and select upholstery fabric 
• Select and order upholstery materials

The tools and equipment used may include:

   Occupational Specialties

Upholsterers may specialize in these areas:

780.381-018 UPHOLSTERERS assemble, repair, or replace fabrics, springs, webbing (metal strips), padding, and other parts of upholstered products including furniture, caskets, mattresses, autos, and trucks.

780.381-038 INSIDE UPHOLSTERERS upholster inside sections of chairs and sofas, using their knowledge of upholstery materials and methods

780.684-118 OUTSIDE UPHOLSTERERS upholster outside sections of chairs and sofas, using their knowledge of fabrics and upholstery procedures.

780.684-122 UPHOLSTERY REPAIRERS locate and repair or replace damaged or defective upholstery on chairs or sofas by sewing rips and tears or tacking new material to the frame.

780.381-010 AUTOMOBILE UPHOLSTERERS repair and replace upholstery in automobiles, buses, and trucks by removing and replacing upholstery from seats and door panels of vehicles.

780.684-134 ASSEMBLY LINE UPHOLSTERERS upholster one part of a sofa, chair, or furniture frame, specializing in a single assembly-line operation, such as attaching and tying springs or stapling padding and coverings to the arms.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

   Working Conditions and Requirements

Upholsterers may be self-employed or work under the direction of supervisors. They may work alone or with several other employees in small shops. In larger shops or factories, Upholsterers work with many co-workers. Upholsterers work indoors in shops generally having adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation. They are exposed to some noise from machine operations and some dust from padding and stuffing. Possible hazards include cuts from sharp tools.

Upholsterers may be required to buy their own hand tools, but most employers supply power tools.

Upholsterers generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Overtime is common in reupholstering shops during the weeks before major holidays. Upholsterers who are self-employed usually work varied schedules in excess of 40 hours.

Self-employed furniture upholsterers or those working in small repair shops may have to travel to pick up and deliver customers' furniture.

Some Upholsterers belong to the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Technical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers (I.U.E.). Members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities dealing with things and objects

• Activities of a routine, definite, organized nature

• Activities that bring personal satisfaction

• Activities which involve the use of machines, processes, or methods

You Should Be Able To:

• Make decisions based on measurable criteria

• Follow instructions precisely

• Meet detailed standards of accuracy

• Understand how various parts of furniture fit together

• Perceive detail and differences in shapes and shadings

• Perceive differences in measurements of furniture, and fabrics

• Work with coverings, other upholstery materials, and methods

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

• If a chair has 6 rows of sinuous springs attached to the side posts and the top-to-bottom frame measurement is 35", what would the twine length be?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

• The hard edge seat assembly is usually styled such that the deck and the seat panel are separate entities. The decking is the first panel to be attached after burlap and basic stuffing has been applied to the seat area.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

• Prepare a written estimate for a potential customer looking to have a couch upholstered.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

• Should be detail oriented in assembling, repairing and replacing upholstered parts.

   Education and Preparation Opportunities

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or an Apprenticeship (usually three to four years of training beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript

SCHOOL SUBJECTS

ART , AUTOMOTIVE , CAREERS , COMMUNICATIONS , FASHION , MATH , TECHNOLOGY

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

There are no Career and Technical Education Programs related to this MOIScript

POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS

173 UPHOLSTERING

Programs in Upholstery provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment assembling and repairing various upholstered articles. Currently, there are no Upholstering Programs offered in Michigan postsecondary schools.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

 Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES

050 UPHOLSTERER

Some people enter occupations within this MOIScript through an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship program is a formal program that takes 3 - 5 years to complete with most of the time spent on the job. Apprenticeship programs for this occupation usually include-

WHAT IS LEARNED ON THE JOB 

WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM 

MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript

 E-Learning Courses and Programs 

   Opportunities for Experience and Methods of Entry

Upholsterers who pick up and deliver furniture need a driver's license. This applies mainly to self-employed Upholsterers.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

• informal apprenticeships

• mentorships

• job shadowing experiences

• touring a local Upholsterer employer

• internships

• volunteer work with a Upholsterer employer

• community service work with an agency

Because of the technical training involved in skilled upholstery work, there are few opportunities for exploration. However, part-time or summer work in a furniture shop or factory is a good way to observe the work. Experience is available through a formal apprenticeship program. Postsecondary programs in upholstering may offer opportunities also.

Methods of becoming an Upholsterer include direct application to employers, completing an apprenticeship program, and contacting a Michigan Works! office. Jobs may also be listed in newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Classifieds2000 Employment (http://www.classifieds2000.com)

Yahoo! Careers (http://careers.yahoo.com/)

Michigan Department of Career Development (http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd)

Michigan Works! (http://www.michiganworks.org/)

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

   Earnings and Advancement

Wages of Upholsterers vary with the job duties, individual skills, union affiliation, geographic location, and type of industry. Many Upholsterers are paid on a piecework basis. Others may receive a base rate plus piecework incentive.

Nationally, Upholsterers' weekly earnings ranged between $300 and $750 in 2001. Their median weekly earnings were $506. Highly skilled specialists or those who owned their own business earned more.   The median weekly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $597 in 2001.

In the automobile industry, Upholsterers' (Auto Cushion Builders) earnings were between $16.45 and $23.13 per hour in early 2002. Autoworkers also receive a cost-of-living allowance.

Apprentice Upholsterers may earn between 45% and 79% of a fully qualified journeyperson's wage rate.

Skilled Upholsterers may do some work in their homes to supplement their incomes.

Upholsterers' benefits depend on the industry and the employer. In large shops, they usually receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. Upholsterers working for auto companies also receive dental and optical benefits. These benefits may be paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Opportunities for advancement are limited. However, in large shops, supervisory positions may be available. Some skilled Upholsterers start their own business.

   Employment and Outlook

Nationally, there were about 43,300 Upholsterers employed in 2000. Employment is expected to decline through the year 2010. About 24.2% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Upholsterer looked like this:

Opportunities will be best for Upholsterers in custom furniture shops and in furniture, automobile, and other manufacturing plants. Although more furniture will be used, the demand for Upholsterers who repair furniture will be limited because people are buying less expensive furniture and replacing rather than reupholstering it. However, since each reupholstering job is unique, automation is expected to have little effect on employment opportunities for Upholsterers. The number of Upholsterers needed may be reduced during periods of economic downturns when furniture sales are slow. Further, manufacturers of new furniture and automotive seats are using more durable coverings and continue to become more automated and efficient.

There are approximately 1,675 Upholsterers employed in Michigan.

Employment of Upholsterers in Michigan is expected to decline through the year 2008. An average of 40 openings is expected annually, with all due to replacement of workers who retire, die or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers transfer to other jobs or occupations.

Growth in population, personal income, business activity, and the number of new households should increase the demand for furniture. However, the demand for furniture Upholsterers will be limited because furniture is being constructed with fewer upholstery materials and because more people are buying new furniture instead of having old pieces reupholstered.

Michigan's Employment Outlook to 2008

   EMPLOYMENT                  NUMBER        PERCENT    PROJECTED YEARLY

   REGION                              EMPLOYED   GROWTH     JOB OPENINGS  

  Ann Arbor Area                     50                     22.4               2

  Battle Creek Area                  15                      0.0                0

  Benton Harbor Area               90                     -6.6               2

  Central Michigan                    75                      24.0              4

  Detroit MSA                          530                   -5.9               11

  Flint Area                               95                      4.2                2

  Grand Rapids Area                 290                  -4.5                6

  Jackson Area                          20                    -5.3                0

  Kalamazoo Area                    10                    -33.3               0

  Lansing MSA                         25                     16.0               1

  Muskegon Area                      10                     0.0                 0

  Northeast Lower Peninsula     10                    12.5                0

  Northwest Lower Peninsula    25                     4.3                 0

  Saginaw MSA                        70                     8.3                 2

  Thumb Area                           230                  -2.2                5

  Upper Peninsula                      60                    3.4                 1

  West Central Michigan            25                    0.0                 0  

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area  

  Sources of Additional Information

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below:

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Copyright © 2003 Michigan Department of Career Development