Upholsterer salary in Illinois
Upholsterers in Illinois earn a median of $42,450 a year ($20.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,200 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $46,340. Illinois ranks 28th of 42 states for upholsterers pay. There are 0.04 upholsterers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $43,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for upholsterers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,300 | $16.49 |
| 25th percentile | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Median | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 75th percentile | $46,620 | $22.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Average (mean) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
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 | $3,537.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,768.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,632.69 |
| Weekly | $816.35 |
| Hourly | $20.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Upholsterer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $43,840 | 110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $43,380 | 240 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $43,730 | $21.03 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for upholsterers in Illinois is $42,450 a year, or $20.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid upholsterers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of upholsterers in Illinois earn at least $60,200 a year. The top 25% earn $46,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for upholsterers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,300 a year, and a quarter of upholsterers earn $35,020 or less.
How many upholsterers work in Illinois?
About 250 upholsterers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.