How much does a shoe machine operators and tender make?

The median pay is $17.14 per hour — roughly $35,500 a year, with the real range running from about $12.77/hr (10th percentile) to $22.94/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a shoe machine operators and tender?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a shoe machine operators and tender actually do all day?

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.

Manufacturing & Production

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.

What it pays
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median of $17.14/hr — about $35,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $12.77/hr; the top 10% earn $22.94/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 19% of shoe machine operators and tenders are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a shoe machine operators and tender make?: The median pay is $17.14 per hour — roughly $35,500 a year, with the real range running from about $12.77/hr (10th percentile) to $22.94/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a shoe machine operators and tender?: The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
What does a shoe machine operators and tender actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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