Upholsterer salary in Iowa
Upholsterers in Iowa earn a median of $42,610 a year ($20.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,980 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $46,340. Iowa ranks 27th of 42 states for upholsterers pay. There are 0.05 upholsterers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38). The average (mean) salary is $43,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for upholsterers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,660 | $15.22 |
| 25th percentile | $32,770 | $15.75 |
| Median | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| 75th percentile | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,980 | $25.47 |
| Average (mean) | $43,020 | $20.68 |
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 | $3,550.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,775.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,638.85 |
| Weekly | $819.42 |
| Hourly | $20.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $32,990 | $15.86 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,730 | $16.21 |
| Sewers, Hand | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for upholsterers in Iowa is $42,610 a year, or $20.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid upholsterers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of upholsterers in Iowa earn at least $52,980 a year. The top 25% earn $51,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for upholsterers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,660 a year, and a quarter of upholsterers earn $32,770 or less.
How many upholsterers work in Iowa?
About 80 upholsterers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.