Prevailing Wage for Upholsterers
Prevailing wage for Upholsterers, including Furniture Upholsterers and Inside Upholsterers, is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. DOL assigns four experience levels, each carrying a different wage floor, and that floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city listed on the Labor Condition Application.
See all jobs for UpholsterersLook up your work address
Entry-level upholsterers with limited hands-on experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers new to the trade or transitioning from a related craft role usually fall here. Employers filing for recent completers of vocational upholstery programs often select Level 1.
Qualified upholsterers with moderate independent experience across standard furniture or vehicle upholstery work. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Upholsterers, covering workers who handle typical assignments without continuous oversight but do not yet supervise others.
Experienced upholsterers who work independently on complex or custom projects, apply specialized techniques, and may guide less senior colleagues. Sponsors filing for workers with a strong record in high-end furniture restoration or automotive interiors often select this level.
Fully competent senior upholsterers exercising broad judgment across all aspects of the trade, including custom design, client consultation, and lead responsibility over a shop or production floor. Level 4 filings typically reflect supervisory or master-craftsperson roles.
Prevailing Wage for Upholsterers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Upholsterers
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Upholsterers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Upholsterers
Verify your title matches SOC 51-6093
Job titles like Trimmer or Stapler are recognized O*NET alternates for this SOC, but employers sometimes code them under production or textile SOCs instead, landing the filing under a different wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title maps explicitly to SOC 51-6093 before signing.
Watch out for piece-rate pay structures
Some upholstery shops pay workers per piece completed rather than a set hourly rate. For sponsored positions, DOL requires the offered wage to meet the prevailing wage floor regardless of output, so verify your guaranteed base rate, not projected piece earnings, clears the level minimum.
Compare metro floors before evaluating an offer
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies widely by city. San Jose and Seattle set floors significantly above Southern metros like Houston. If you are weighing competing offers in different cities, check each worksite location through the OFLC Wage Search before comparing total compensation.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with upholstery sponsorship history
Furniture manufacturers and vehicle interior shops rarely publicize their visa filing history. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Upholsterers before, letting you focus applications on companies with a demonstrated record rather than guessing at willingness to file an LCA.
Jobs for Upholsterers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for UpholsterersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6093.00 alongside Upholsterers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Box Spring Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Box Spring Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Box Spring Upholsterer positions fall under SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Furniture Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Furniture Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Furniture Upholsterer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Inside Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Inside Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Inside Upholsterer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sofa Back Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Sofa Back Upholsterer Prevailing Wage
Sofa Back Upholsterer positions fall under SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Stapler Prevailing Wage
Stapler Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Stapler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Upholstered Goods Crafter Prevailing Wage
Upholstered Goods Crafter Prevailing Wage
Upholstered Goods Crafter positions fall under SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Upholstery Cutter Prevailing Wage
Upholstery Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Upholstery Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Upholstery Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Upholstery Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Upholstery Trimmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6093.00 (Upholsterers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Upholsterers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Upholsterers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys. OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience, education, and supervision requirements. Employers sponsoring a worker on H-1B, E-3, or PERM must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and complexity.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which applies to my job offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified workers performing typical tasks independently. Level 3 covers experienced workers handling complex assignments and informally guiding others. Level 4 applies to senior or lead workers with broad trade authority. Compare the actual duties, supervision structure, and complexity in your job offer letter against DOL's level definitions to identify the correct level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same upholstery role differ so much from city to city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which reflect local labor market conditions. High cost-of-living metros with concentrated demand for skilled craftswork, such as San Jose or New York, produce higher survey results than markets with lower demand. The LCA requires employers to list the actual worksite location, so the floor always reflects where the work is performed, not the employer's headquarters.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot submit a certified LCA to USCIS unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. If the offer falls short, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or E-3 petition. For PERM green card cases, DOL will deny the application. The employer must raise the offered wage before filing, not after.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an upholstery position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search, DOL's official tool, and enter SOC code 51-6093 along with the worksite metropolitan area. Select the wage level that matches your job duties to see the applicable floor. OFLC updates its wage tables annually, so confirm you are viewing the current program year's figures. Migrate Mate also lets you filter open upholstery roles by location and employer sponsorship history to narrow your search before requesting an offer.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Upholsterers right now.
Search Jobs for Upholsterers