Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

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Typical Tasks for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

The day-to-day work of a shoe and leather workers and repairers typically centers on dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes. 7 of these 8 tasks are Core O*NET duties; the remainder are common supplemental work. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.

1. Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.Core
2. Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.Core
3. Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.Core
4. Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.Core
5. Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.Core
6. Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.Core
7. Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.Core
8. Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.Supplemental

Top Skills for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Workers in this occupation rely most on Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and Active Listening. Across the top 4 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.00 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.

Education & Entry Qualifications

Among working shoe and leather workers and repairers, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (56.4%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.

Salary by State — Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Median annual pay is highest in Washington at $80,670 and lowest in Mississippi at $25,720 — a 3.1× spread. The top five states (Washington, Tennessee, Iowa, New York, Wisconsin) average $52,730. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.

Also Known As

Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for shoe and leather workers and repairers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Back Shoe Cutter or Bench Hand frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.