The median pay for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers is $37,800 a year ($18.17/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 6.5% through 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-6041
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $37,800a year, or $18.17/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $28KTop 10% $53K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -6.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−6.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −6.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,00010,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202510.3K
- Projected 20359.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 10.3K Projected 2035 9.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school43.6%
- High school56.4%
Highest education held by shoe and leather workers and repairers Segment Value Less than high school 43.6% High school 56.4%
Also advertised as: Boot Maker, Cobbler, Leather Worker, Saddle and Harness Maker, Shoe Cutter, Shoe Maker.
Pay
How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers make?
Every shoe and leather worker and repairer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$37,800
Middle half earn $31,270 to $45,670
- 10th
- $28,210
- 25th
- $31,270
- 75th
- $45,670
- 90th
- $52,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,210 |
| 25th | $31,270 |
| Median | $37,800 |
| 75th | $45,670 |
| 90th | $52,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $37,800
- Median hourly wage
- $18.17/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $39,160
- People employed
- 7,450
Versus all US occupations
At $37,800, Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers earn 26% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $13,180 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $52,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,210, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 5% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Tennessee pays the most at $52,520, and still leads at $57,168 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Tennessee | $52,520 | $57,168 | 330 |
| 2Washington | $48,310 | $45,144 | 100 |
| 3New Jersey | $46,790 | $43,004 | 230 |
| 4Massachusetts | $46,550 | $44,016 | 500 |
| 5Arizona | $45,510 | $45,204 | 120 |
| 6Wisconsin | $44,000 | $46,761 | 460 |
| 7Illinois | $43,730 | $43,748 | 200 |
| 8Minnesota | $42,940 | $43,540 | 200 |
| 9New York | $42,100 | $39,010 | N/A |
| 10New Hampshire | $40,800 | $39,169 | 30 |
Job outlook
Is Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -6.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | −6.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers to change -6.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 700 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 9.7% of the 10,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as shoe and leather workers and repairers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)56.4%
- Less than a High School Diploma43.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 56.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 43.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer do?
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Day-to-day tasks
- Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
- Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
- Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
- Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
- Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
- Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
- Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Learning2.4
- Writing2.1
- Mathematics1.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Mathematics | 1.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Time Management2.8
- Quality Control Analysis2.5
- Complex Problem Solving2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Inventory management software
- Point of sale POS software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.9
- Conventional3.2
- Artistic3.1
- Investigative1.6
- Enterprising1.5
- Social1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Production
- Production
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
$42,660median a year
Most earn $33K to $61K
−19.2%No formal credential
More production careers
Median annual pay, with shoe and leather workers and repairers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer$37,800
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer | $37,800 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer appears on
Questions
Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer: frequently asked questions
How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers make?
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers earn a median of $37,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 26% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.17/hr. The middle half earn between $31,270 and $45,670. The top 10% earn $52,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 56.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 6.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 700 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer do?
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. A core O*NET task: construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers are Tennessee ($52,520), Washington ($48,310), New Jersey ($46,790) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer?
O*NET scores Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.