Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Median pay: $35,650/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -3.7% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
What's the median pay for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders?
The median pay for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders is $35,650 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders?
Employment for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders is projected to change -3.7% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders?
About 400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.