Upholsterers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,200 or more. The middle half of upholsterers in Chicago earn between $35,030 and $46,620.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $43KMedian
- $47K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,160 | $3,680 | $21.23 |
| Median | $43,380 | $3,615 | $20.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,030 | $2,919 | $16.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,620 | $3,885 | $22.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Upholsterers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Upholsterers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($43,140) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($47,340). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $46,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $44,160 | $43,380 | $34,630 | $60,200 | 240 |
| Illinois | $43,140 | $42,450 | $34,300 | $60,200 | 250 |
| United States | $47,340 | $46,340 | $31,690 | $63,770 | 20,140 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Upholsterers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $44,160, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $35,618 a year, or $2,968 a month and $1,370 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $36,368 | $3,031 |
| Working in IL | $35,618 | $2,968 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for upholsterers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $44,160 buys what about $42,628 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Upholsterers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$45,020
- Elkhart, IN$45,020
- Madison, WI$58,290
- Grand Rapids, MI$43,410
- Indianapolis, IN$45,270
- Toledo, OH$40,190
Highest-paying cities for upholsterers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($67,380).
- San Jose, CA$67,380
- Seattle, WA$66,720
- Bridgeport, CT$61,350
- San Francisco, CA$59,910
- Providence, RI$58,700
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Upholsterers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do upholsterers make an hour in Chicago?
$21.23 an hour on average, and $20.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level upholsterers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the upholsterers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $35,618 a year ($2,968 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,160.
Do upholsterers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($47,340).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6093; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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