Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Also called: Boot Maker · Cobbler · Inseamer · Insole Department Worker · Shoe Cementer · Shoe Maker
Median pay (national)
$38,160
$24,160–$47,860 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
3,270
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-3.7%
~400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for shoe machine operators and tenders shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $47,860 versus $24,160 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $38,160 leaves roughly 25% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -3.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 6 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $46,290, +21% vs the national median), while Texas sits lowest at $24,160 — a 92% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
- Test machinery to ensure proper functioning before beginning production.
- Operate or tend machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
- 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.
- Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
- Cut excess thread or material from shoe parts, using scissors or knives.
- 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.
- Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
Tools & technology
- Inventory tracking software
- Production control software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Public Safety and Security
- Engineering and Technology
- Administrative