Shoe machine operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Mean (average) | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| 90th percentile | $47,700 | $22.94 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Shoe machine operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 6 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $47,730 | $44,060 | $70,620 | 30 | 0.09 |
| Maine | $39,850 | $31,450 | $48,740 | 530 | 39.22 |
| Minnesota | $37,600 | $31,810 | $48,930 | 370 | 5.92 |
| New York | $48,420 | $39,420 | $52,180 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Texas | $26,560 | $20,210 | $29,090 | 500 | 1.67 |
| Wisconsin | $37,970 | $30,580 | $46,110 | 110 | 1.8 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for shoe machine operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 26.3%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for shoe machine operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Shoe, Boot and Leather Repair CIP 48.0304
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Inspect finished products to ensure that shoes have been completed according to specifications.
- Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
- Operate or tend machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
- Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
- Switch on machines, lower pressure feet or rollers to secure parts, and start machine stitching, using hand, foot, or knee controls.
- Draw thread through machine guide slots, needles, and presser feet in preparation for stitching, or load rolls of wire through machine axles.
- Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
- Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Inventory tracking software
- Production control software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Troubleshooting, Time Management.
Common job titles: Boot Maker, Cobbler, Inseamer, Insole Department Worker, Shoe Cementer, Shoe Maker, Side Laster, Stitcher, Toe Trimmer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do shoe machine operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for shoe machine operators and tenders was $35,650 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $26,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $47,700. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do shoe machine operators and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is shoe machine operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of shoe machine operators and tenders to change -6.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay shoe machine operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($48,420), California ($47,730), Maine ($39,850). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.