All careers › Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Shoe machine operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $26,560lowest 10% earn less
- $29,09025th percentile
- $35,650median
- $43,09075th percentile
- $47,700top 10% earn more
A shoe machine operator (BLS title: Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders) had a median pay of $35,650 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to decline 6.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -6.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 400[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do shoe machine operators make?
The median wage was $35,650 a year, or $17.14 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $36,280 a year, or $17.44 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So this job's median is lower than the national middle.
| Level | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][8] | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| 25th percentile[3][8] | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| Median[1] | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| 75th percentile[3][8] | $43,090 | $20.72 |
| 90th percentile[3][8] | $47,700 | $22.94 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26,560[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10]. About 3,280 people held these jobs[11].
Pay by state and city
Only 6 states have published data[12]. New York had the highest median at $48,420, followed by California at $47,730 and Maine at $39,850[12]. New York and California each had few jobs, 40 and 30[12]. Texas had the lowest listed median at $26,560[12].
Maine had the most jobs at 530, then Texas at 500, Minnesota at 370, Wisconsin at 110 and New York at 40[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, only El Paso, TX is listed, with a median of $23,070[14]. It had 170 jobs[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had 40 jobs with a median of $48,530, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had 30 with $47,730[15].
Show median pay in 6 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York[12] | $48,420 | 40 |
| California | $47,730 | 30 |
| Maine | $39,850 | 530 |
| Wisconsin | $37,970 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $37,600 | 370 |
| Texas | $26,560 | 500 |
How to become a shoe machine operator
- First: finish high school or earn an equivalent. BLS lists this as the education needed to enter[6].
- Next: no related work experience is required[6].
- Then: get short-term on-the-job training[6].
O*NET places this job in a group needing very little to some preparation[16]. Some jobs in that group need little or no previous experience, and others need several months to a year[16].
About 26.3% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[17].
What shoe machine operators do
These workers run or tend machines used to put together, decorate, strengthen or finish shoes and shoe parts[18]. Common tasks include:
- Inspecting finished shoes against specifications[19].
- Lining up parts along seams, edges or markings before stitching[19].
- Starting machines and securing parts with pressure feet or rollers, using hand, foot or knee controls[19].
- Threading machines or loading wire for stitching[19].
- Reading work orders or part tags to learn materials and workloads[19].
- Cleaning and oiling machines and replacing broken needles[19].
- Testing machines before production starts[19].
- Loading spools and bobbins[19].
Workers report job titles such as stitcher, shoe maker and side laster[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to fall 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,600 to 4,200 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[21]. These counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 3,280 wage and salary jobs above[2][11].
About 400 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 5.1% of workers leave the labor force and 5.8% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry: a high school diploma, no related experience and short-term training[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4]. Employment is projected to shrink, though openings continue as workers leave[2][5].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a shoe machine operator make an hour?
- The median was $17.14 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $17.44[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a shoe machine operator?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and short-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is shoe machine operator a growing job?
- No. BLS projects a 6.9% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][21].
- Which state has the most shoe machine operator jobs?
- Maine had the most at 530, followed by Texas at 500[13].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders in the US was $35,650 per year and $17.14 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders is projected to decline 6.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,600 to 4,200 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $26,560, 25th percentile $29,090, 75th percentile $43,090, 90th percentile $47,700. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders was $36,280 per year and $17.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $12.77, 25th percentile $13.99, 75th percentile $20.72, 90th percentile $22.94. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,280 people were employed as Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders jobs: Maine 530; Texas 500; Minnesota 370; Wisconsin 110; New York 40. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): El Paso, TX $23,070. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders jobs: El Paso, TX 170 (median $23,070); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 40 (median $48,530); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 30 (median $47,730). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-6042.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: 26.3% of Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- O*NET description of Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-6042.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Boot Maker, Cobbler, Inseamer, Insole Department Worker, Shoe Cementer, Shoe Maker, Side Laster, Stitcher. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: 5.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.