Side-by-Side Comparison
Upholsterers leads 5–0| Metric | Upholsterers | Sewing Machine Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 20.0% | 43.4% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 7th | 89th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 3 / 15 | 10 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $46,190 | $36,000 |
| Employment | 21K | 110K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Thinking Creatively
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
Performing General Physical Activities
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Static Strength
Visual Color Discrimination
Production and Processing
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Finger Dexterity
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Upholsterers
28%
total discount
Sewing Machine Operators
22%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Upholsterers
3 of 15 at risk88%Maintain records of time required to perform each job.
86%Read work orders, and apply knowledge and experience with materials to determine types and amounts of materials required to cover workpieces.
55%Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints.
47%Draw cutting lines on material following patterns, templates, sketches, or blueprints, using chalk, pencils, paint, or other methods.
41%Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery by hand to seam cushions and join various sections of covering material.
Sewing Machine Operators
10 of 15 at risk88%Record quantities of materials processed.
86%Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
84%Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
84%Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
80%Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
Wage Comparison
Sewing Machine Operators earns -$10,190(-22%) vs Upholsterers
UpholsterersSewing Machine Operators
10th
$32,190$26,860
25th
$37,200$31,200
Median
$46,190$36,000
75th
$51,740$40,810
90th
$63,600$47,060
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Upholsterers2028–2035
Sewing Machine Operators2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Upholsterers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Sewing Machine Operators.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Upholsterers
$36,943
from $46,190
Sewing Machine Operators
$20,376
from $36,000
After adjusting for AI risk, Upholsterers offers $16,567 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Upholsterers
0
Unique to Sewing
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Decision Complexity
Social Intelligence
UpholsterersSewing Machine Operators