Marine upholsterer
Also known as: ship upholsterer, marine upholstery maker, marine interior furniture maker, marine furniture maker, marine upholstery assembler, marine upholstery finisher
About this occupation
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.
A specialisation of upholsterer.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply health and safety standards
- align components
- use technical documentation
- quality standards
- apply preliminary treatment to workpieces
- test electronic units
- troubleshoot
- use power tools
- upholstery tools
- read engineering drawings
- fasten components
- read standard blueprints
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Upholsterers (O*NET 51-6093.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Fit, install, and secure material on frames, using hand tools, power tools, glue, cement, or staples.
- Measure and cut new covering materials, using patterns and measuring and cutting instruments, following sketches and design specifications.
- Build furniture up with loose fiber stuffing, cotton, felt, or foam padding to form smooth, rounded surfaces.
- Make, restore, or create custom upholstered furniture, using hand tools and knowledge of fabrics and upholstery methods.
- Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
- Examine furniture frames, upholstery, springs, and webbing to locate defects.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Artistic, Conventional
Top skills: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Monitoring
US median pay: US$46,340 a year (2025), 20,140 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
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- Sewers, Hand
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- Sewing Machine Operators
- Carpet Installers
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.