Production
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Median pay
- $35,650
- Outlook
- Decline
High school diploma
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
SOC 51-6041.00
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
Annual pay range
7,450 people work in this occupation.
In short
Shoe and leather workers and repairers construct, decorate, and fix leather goods like shoes, luggage, and saddles. This career offers a median annual pay of $37,800, with earnings typically ranging from under $28,210 to over $52,550.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.
People in this field spend their days working with leather and similar materials to make or restore items such as boots, saddles, and bags. They inspect materials and equipment, monitor production processes, and control machines or use hand tools to shape and join pieces. The job requires handling and moving objects physically, evaluating the quality of items, and solving problems when pieces do not fit or look right.
This work strongly appeals to individuals with Realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical tasks. Success in this role requires a high level of attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, and perseverance. Workers must use critical thinking, active listening, and coordination to complete tasks safely and accurately. They also rely on knowledge of production and processing, mechanical systems, design, and customer service to meet quality standards and assist clients who bring in items for repair.
To enter this career, workers typically need a high school diploma. The occupation is classified as requiring some preparation, meaning most people enter the field with a high school education and then gain the necessary skills through on-the-job training or prior work experience.
For those who want to prepare before finding a job, college majors in leatherworking and upholstery provide relevant training. There are no specific licenses, certifications, or professional associations listed as requirements to enter this field. Beginners learn the trade by working alongside experienced makers and repairers, gradually mastering the use of specialized hand tools and sewing machinery.
The median annual pay for shoe and leather workers and repairers is $37,800. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $28,210, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $52,550.
There are 7,450 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -6.5 percent. Despite this decline in total jobs, about 1,000 openings are still expected each year to replace workers who leave the field.
Interest code RCA. Compare it with yours
Back Shoe Cutter · Bench Hand · Boot and Saddle Repair Person · Boot Maker · Boot Repairer · Bootmaker · Cobbler · Custom Leather Products Maker · Custom Shoe Maker · Custom Shoemaker
Career pathway
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This career
Majors
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
9 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What shoe and leather workers and repairers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
Workers in this field are known by several names depending on their specialty. Common titles include cobbler, bootmaker, custom leather products maker, boot and saddle repair person, and bench hand.
If you are interested in this line of work, you might also explore roles like shoe machine operators and tenders, hand sewers, sewing machine operators, upholsterers, or grinding and polishing workers.
Because most workers enter the field with a high school diploma, they typically receive on-the-job training. This hands-on instruction helps them learn to control machinery, handle tools safely, and evaluate the quality of leather goods.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.