Occupation Description

Upholsterers cover or re-cover furniture with fabric or other material and sometimes repair furniture. They can also create items of furniture or other specialised covers and awnings for the marine, automotive and caravan markets.

Upholsterers may perform the following tasks…

Upholsterers may work in one of, or a combination of, four main fields…

Upholsterers stand for most of the day as the furniture is normally placed on a bench top while work is carried out. Upholsterers can be employed by furniture makers in the production of commercial, household, marine and caravan furniture and other items.

Personal Requirements

You should

Environment

Upholsterers generally work in workshops but sometimes they might need to work on-site in a client's home or at a marina or boat building yard, or at other sites. Most furniture upholsterers work in factories on new furniture. Some work in small businesses, where they may do antique, customised, renovation, repair and recovery work, or combine repair and manufacture. Some choose to start their own business . Business success in upholstery, like all enterprises, depends as much on sales skills and customer service as on craft skills, and therefore some business skills training might be of benefit. There can also be considerable costs involved.

Training

You can sometimes work as an upholstery process worker without undertaking any formal training or qualifications however some employers will prefer that you do. To work as an upholstery process worker you will usually require a Certificate II in Upholstery.

With experience, and possibly some further training, upholstery process workers can become an upholstery tradesperson . This will usually require a Certificate III in Upholstery,

Of course you can work at even higher levels within this occupation and sector, and with further training and experience you can continue to progress along a career pathway that could see you move into occupations such as design or production supervisor ( Certificate IV in Furnishing Technology or a Diploma of Furnishing Technology ) and even end up in a senior management position.

Certificate II in Upholstery
Certificate III in Upholstery

Earnings, Job and Employment Prospects

For detailed information about earnings, job and employment prospects for this occupation, go to the Australian JobSearch Careers page and click on Job Outlook .

Printed Resources

Printed Resources

The INFOSHEET PDFs provide information about the Manufacturing Industry and its various sectors and occupations. To view and print these documents click RESOURCES (you will need to have Adobe Reader ® installed).

Where Can I Go From This Job?

To find out more about potential Manufacturing career possibilities click PATHWAYS.