Upholsterers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,140 or more. The middle half of upholsterers in San Diego earn between $47,490 and $56,420.
- $39K10th
- $47K25th
- $49KMedian
- $56K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,400 | $4,200 | $24.23 |
| Median | $49,000 | $4,083 | $23.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,490 | $3,958 | $22.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,420 | $4,702 | $27.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Upholsterers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Upholsterers in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($50,040) and 6% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $50,400 | $49,000 | $39,230 | $62,140 | 110 |
| California | $50,040 | $48,580 | $37,710 | $62,810 | 1,640 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $50,400, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $41,460 a year, or $3,455 a month and $1,595 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for upholsterers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $50,400 buys what about $45,045 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 18.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Upholsterers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 3rd of 6 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($67,380).
- San Jose$67,380
- San Francisco$59,910
- San Diego$50,400
- Sacramento$48,550
- Los Angeles$48,140
- Riverside$47,850
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 San Diego: questions
How much do upholsterers make an hour in San Diego?
$24.23 an hour on average, and $23.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level upholsterers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the upholsterers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $41,460 a year ($3,455 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,400. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do upholsterers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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