Upholsterer salary in California
Upholsterers in California earn a median of $48,580 a year ($23.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,810 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $46,340. California ranks 13th of 42 states for upholsterers pay. There are 0.09 upholsterers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $50,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for upholsterers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| 25th percentile | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Median | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| 75th percentile | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Average (mean) | $50,040 | $24.06 |
Half of upholsterers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,048.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,024.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,868.46 |
| Weekly | $934.23 |
| Hourly | $23.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Upholsterer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,610 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,560 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,000 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,730 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $48,700 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,630 | 940 |
Highest-paying states for upholsterers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $63,360 |
| Hawaii | $57,390 |
| Washington | $55,970 |
| North Dakota | $52,420 |
| Connecticut | $50,870 |
| Georgia | $50,760 |
| North Carolina | $50,600 |
| Maryland | $50,270 |
| Louisiana | $49,920 |
| Nevada | $49,880 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| Sewers, Hand | $42,420 | $20.40 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,730 | $22.95 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a upholsterer make in California?
The median salary for upholsterers in California is $48,580 a year, or $23.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid upholsterers make in California?
The top 10% of upholsterers in California earn at least $62,810 a year. The top 25% earn $57,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for upholsterers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,710 a year, and a quarter of upholsterers earn $42,240 or less.
How many upholsterers work in California?
About 1,640 upholsterers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.