Upholsterers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-6093.00
Make, repair, or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.18
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 21 hidden tasks22 rated tasks · 7 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (31.8%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.51-6093.00 | 0.0036100.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.O*NET Task ID 14233 | 1.0 |
Maintain records of time required to perform each job.O*NET Task ID 14237 | 1.0 |
Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates.O*NET Task ID 14238 | 1.0 |
Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.O*NET Task ID 14230 | 0.5 |
Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.O*NET Task ID 14234 | 0.5 |
Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.O*NET Task ID 14247 | 0.5 |
Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics.O*NET Task ID 14249 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (22)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples. | Core |
| Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces. | Core |
| Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects. | Core |
| Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools. | Core |
| Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers. | Core |
| Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces. | Core |
| Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods. | Core |
| Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications. | Core |
| Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood. | Core |
| Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners. | Core |
| Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread. | Core |
| Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place. | Core |
| Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods. | Supplemental |
| Maintain records of time required to perform each job. | Supplemental |
| Discuss upholstery fabrics, colors, and styles with customers, and provide cost estimates. | Supplemental |
| Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material. | Supplemental |
| Pick up and deliver furniture. | Supplemental |
| Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling. | Supplemental |
| Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers. | Supplemental |
| Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints. | Supplemental |
| Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods. | Supplemental |
| Collaborate with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics. | Supplemental |
0.16/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples. | E0 none |
| Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces. | E0 none |
| Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects. | E0 none |
| Attach fasteners, grommets, buttons, buckles, ornamental trim, and other accessories to covers or frames, using hand tools. | E0 none |
| Remove covering, webbing, padding, or defective springs from workpieces, using hand tools such as hammers and tack pullers. | E0 none |
| Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods. | E0 none |
| Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair furniture frames and refinish exposed wood. | E0 none |
| Interweave and fasten strips of webbing to the backs and undersides of furniture, using small hand tools and fasteners. | E0 none |
| Sew rips or tears in material, or create tufting, using needles and thread. | E0 none |
| Adjust or replace webbing, padding, or springs, and secure them in place. | E0 none |
| Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material. | E0 none |
| Pick up and deliver furniture. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach bindings or apply solutions to edges of cut material to prevent raveling. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stretch webbing and fabric, using webbing stretchers. | E0 none |
| Make, repair, or replace automobile upholstery and convertible and vinyl tops, using knowledge of fabric and upholstery methods. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 23K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 22K
- Change (2025–35)
- -2.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,340
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72193 | 시트 제품 제조원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 72249 | 그 외 수선원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 82299 | 그 외 직물·신발 관련 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7534Upholsterers and Related Workers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- upholstererESCO 7534.3Same scope
Upholsterers provide objects such as furniture, panels, orthopaedic devices, fixtures or vehicle parts with padding or soft covering. They can install, repair or replace the upholstery of objects with materials such as fabrics, leather, suede or cotton. Upholsterers install the webbings and springs necessary to cover the material.
- furniture upholstererESCO 7534.3.1This occupation is broader
Furniture upholsterers provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing and covers. Sometimes they have to remove old padding, filling and broken strings before to replace them using tools such as a tack puller, chisel or mallet. The aim is to provide comfort and beauty to seats as backs of the furniture.
- marine upholstererESCO 7534.3.2This occupation is broader
Marine upholsterers manufacture, assemble and repair interior components for all types of boats. They use power tools, hand tools and shop equipment to prepare and fasten materials and apply finishes. They also inspect incoming materials and prepare the boat interior for new components.
- motor vehicle upholstererESCO 7534.3.3This occupation is broader
Motor vehicle upholsterers create manufacturing templates, manufacture and assemble interior components for cars, buses, trucks etc. They use power tools, hand tools and shop equipment to prepare and fasten materials. They also inspect incoming materials and prepare the vehicle interior for trim items.
- railway car upholstererESCO 7534.3.4This occupation is broader
Railway car upholsterers create manufacturing templates, manufacture and assemble interior components for train carriages. They use power tools, hand tools and CNC machines to prepare and fasten materials. They also inspect incoming materials and prepare the vehicle interior for trim items.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| B1404 | Canneur rempailleur / Canneuse rempailleuse | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1806 | Tapissier / Tapissière d'ameublement | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1811 | Sellier-garnisseur / Sellière-garnisseuse | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2422 | Tapissier industriel / Tapissière industrielle | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7835 | Tapiceros, colchoneros y afines | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 28242 | Berufe in der Polsterei und Fahrzeuginnenausstattung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 93232 | Berufe in der Raumausstattung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 93233 | Berufe in der Raumausstattung - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品を除く） | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources