Upholsterer

O*NET: Upholsterers·51-6093.00

The Verdict:Custom upholstery demands hands-on dexterity with flexible fabrics, padding, and irregular frames that robots cannot replicate. Each piece varies in shape and condition, requiring tactile adaptation. AI aids design and estimates, boosting efficiency, but the physical craft remains human territory. No displacement pressure, with steady craft demand ahead.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$46k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

-1.8%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 1 of 22 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
17 of 22 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 18% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

1exposed

4AI leverage

17human-essential

View all 22 tasks

AI Can Handle This1 task

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Maintain records of time required to perform each job.

AI Leverage4 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.

Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.

Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates.

Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.

Human Advantage17 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.

Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.

Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.

Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.

Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.

Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place.

Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread.

Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers.

Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools.

Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood.

Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners.

Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.

Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers.

Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.

Pick up and deliver furniture.

Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling.

Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods.

Resilience Landscape

Upholsterer lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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