63221 – Upholsterers
TEER 3Occupations usually requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training
Lead statement
Upholsterers cover furniture, fixtures and similar items with fabric, leather or other upholstery materials.
Main duties
- 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
- May make upholstery patterns from sketches, customer descriptions or blueprints
- May install, fabricate, maintain and repair interior components of aircraft, such as seats, coverings, drapes, cargo nets, flooring, closets, bins and panels.
Employment requirements
- Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair orseveral years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Example job titles
aircraft custom upholsterer · aircraft upholsterer · automotive upholsterer · automobile upholsterer · casket upholsterer · chair upholsterer · custom upholsterer · furniture upholsterer · aircraft patternmaker and upholsterer · patternmaker-upholsterer · preparation upholsterer · production upholsterer · upholstery repairer · re-upholsterer · upholsterer · railway car upholsterer · vehicle upholstery repairer · aircraft furnishing technician · industrial upholsterer · upholstery mechanic
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $17.99 | $22.46 | $31.00 |
| Quebec | $18.00 | $22.00 | $27.63 |
| Ontario | $18.50 | $24.45 | $35.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $19.95 | $24.56 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.