Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers (SOC 51-6041) earn a median $37,800 a year ($18.17 an hour) in the United States, with 7,450 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Tennessee.
What shoe and leather workers and repairers do
Shoe and leather workers and repairers make, decorate, or mend products of leather and similar materials, including shoes, luggage, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves. The worker takes apart the damaged item, removing worn parts with hand tools, then cuts replacement pieces to pattern or outline using knives, shears, or a press. Sewing machines, needles and thread, lacing, glue, and clamps join the pieces. Finishing may include dyeing, staining, polishing, stamping, buffing, or engraving to get the desired look. Compared with the factory operators who tend shoe-making machines, these workers do hands-on work from a whole item. Pieces of fabric, fleece, leather, or wood may be aligned and stitched or glued together to join the parts. They also drill or punch holes to attach metal rings, handles, and hardware such as buckles.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Back Shoe Cutter, Bench Hand, Boot and Saddle Repair Person, Boot Maker, Boot Repairer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.56 | $15.03 | $18.17 | $21.96 | $25.26 | $18.83 | 7,450 |
| Annual | $28,210 | $31,270 | $37,800 | $45,670 | $52,550 | $39,160 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where shoe and leather workers and repairers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $16.36 | $19.33 | $25.25 | $25.26 | $25.26 | $22.00 | 330 | 0.10 | 2.07 |
| Annual | $34,030 | $40,200 | $52,520 | $52,550 | $52,550 | $45,770 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.51 | $17.68 | $23.23 | $28.79 | $43.37 | $25.40 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $36,420 | $36,780 | $48,310 | $59,880 | $90,210 | $52,840 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.83 | $17.62 | $22.49 | $28.53 | $28.53 | $22.78 | 230 | 0.05 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $35,000 | $36,650 | $46,790 | $59,340 | $59,340 | $47,380 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $17.40 | $21.71 | $22.38 | $26.39 | $26.43 | $22.70 | 500 | 0.14 | 2.85 |
| Annual | $36,180 | $45,150 | $46,550 | $54,890 | $54,980 | $47,220 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $17.58 | $20.33 | $21.88 | $21.88 | $21.88 | $21.12 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $36,570 | $42,290 | $45,510 | $45,510 | $45,510 | $43,920 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $8.61 | $12.91 | $14.72 | $17.93 | $20.54 | $15.34 | 1,860 | 0.13 | 2.76 |
| Annual | $17,910 | $26,860 | $30,620 | $37,300 | $42,720 | $31,900 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.24 | $17.99 | $18.33 | $21.34 | $22.91 | $19.72 | 510 | 0.03 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $35,860 | $37,420 | $38,130 | $44,380 | $47,650 | $41,020 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $17.40 | $21.71 | $22.38 | $26.39 | $26.43 | $22.70 | 500 | 0.14 | 2.85 |
| Annual | $36,180 | $45,150 | $46,550 | $54,890 | $54,980 | $47,220 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $15.18 | $17.61 | $21.15 | $22.22 | $23.11 | $20.11 | 460 | 0.16 | 3.25 |
| Annual | $31,570 | $36,620 | $44,000 | $46,210 | $48,060 | $41,830 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.83 | $13.96 | $17.09 | $20.80 | $22.89 | $18.01 | 400 | 0.04 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $28,760 | $29,030 | $35,540 | $43,260 | $47,610 | $37,460 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $17.62 | $21.77 | $22.38 | $26.43 | $26.43 | $23.11 | 390 | 0.15 | 3.05 |
| Annual | $36,650 | $45,270 | $46,550 | $54,980 | $54,980 | $48,070 | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $16.66 | $18.49 | $22.22 | $22.22 | $25.57 | $20.78 | 220 | 0.27 | 5.66 |
| Annual | $34,650 | $38,470 | $46,210 | $46,210 | $53,180 | $43,220 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.83 | $18.14 | $22.10 | $28.06 | $28.53 | $23.04 | 260 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $35,000 | $37,730 | $45,960 | $58,370 | $59,340 | $47,920 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $13.44 | $17.11 | $21.94 | $27.81 | $27.87 | $21.73 | 100 | 0.05 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $27,960 | $35,580 | $45,640 | $57,850 | $57,970 | $45,200 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $16.87 | $18.00 | $19.21 | $22.00 | $23.48 | $20.20 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.26 |
| Annual | $35,100 | $37,440 | $39,960 | $45,760 | $48,840 | $42,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.72 | $15.05 | $18.22 | $19.42 | $21.96 | $18.07 | 440 | 0.11 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $30,620 | $31,300 | $37,900 | $40,390 | $45,680 | $37,580 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $17.62 | $21.77 | $22.38 | $26.43 | $26.43 | $23.11 | 390 | 0.15 | 3.05 |
| Annual | $36,650 | $45,270 | $46,550 | $54,980 | $54,980 | $48,070 | ||||
| El Paso, TX | Hourly | $7.87 | $7.88 | $12.91 | $13.17 | $16.50 | $12.05 | 340 | 1.02 | 21.22 |
| Annual | $16,370 | $16,390 | $26,860 | $27,400 | $34,320 | $25,050 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.83 | $18.14 | $22.10 | $28.06 | $28.53 | $23.04 | 260 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $35,000 | $37,730 | $45,960 | $58,370 | $59,340 | $47,920 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.82 | $18.00 | $18.18 | $20.51 | $23.05 | $19.51 | 220 | 0.04 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $37,060 | $37,450 | $37,810 | $42,660 | $47,950 | $40,580 | ||||
Top industries employing shoe and leather workers and repairers
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employ 33.2% of shoe and leather workers and repairers nationally (2,470 jobs) at a median $36,880 a year ($17.73 an hour), followed by Footwear Manufacturing (31.5%) and Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing (11.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing NAICS 316900 | 2,470 | 33.2% | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Footwear Manufacturing NAICS 316200 | 2,350 | 31.5% | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing NAICS 316100 | 880 | 11.8% | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811400 | 550 | 7.4% | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 424300 | 340 | 4.6% | $52,520 | $25.25 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,450). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $31,450 for shoe and leather workers and repairers in May 2021 and $37,800 in May 2025, with employment of 5,620 and 7,450.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $31,450 | $15.12 | 5,620 |
| May 2022 | $32,460 | $15.61 | 8,860 |
| May 2023 | $36,020 | $17.32 | 7,230 |
| May 2024 | $35,950 | $17.29 | 7,640 |
| May 2025 | $37,800 | $18.17 | 7,450 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
29 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee profile | $25.25 | $52,520 | $34,030 | $52,550 | 330 | 0.10 | 2.07 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $23.23 | $48,310 | $36,420 | $90,210 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $22.49 | $46,790 | $35,000 | $59,340 | 230 | 0.05 | 1.10 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $22.38 | $46,550 | $36,180 | $54,980 | 500 | 0.14 | 2.85 |
| 5 | Arizona profile | $21.88 | $45,510 | $36,570 | $45,510 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.77 |
| 6 | Wisconsin profile | $21.15 | $44,000 | $31,570 | $48,060 | 460 | 0.16 | 3.25 |
| 7 | Illinois profile | $21.03 | $43,730 | $31,200 | $58,920 | 200 | 0.03 | 0.68 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $20.65 | $42,940 | $34,030 | $57,970 | 200 | 0.07 | 1.39 |
| 9 | New York profile | $20.24 | $42,100 | $37,280 | $49,850 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | New Hampshire profile | $19.62 | $40,800 | $40,270 | $53,770 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.93 |
| 11 | Idaho profile | $19.23 | $40,000 | $18,330 | $50,370 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.96 |
| 12 | Missouri profile | $18.61 | $38,700 | $28,780 | $49,070 | 240 | 0.08 | 1.74 |
| 13 | Utah profile | $18.60 | $38,700 | $33,080 | $49,100 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.86 |
| 14 | California profile | $18.33 | $38,130 | $35,860 | $47,650 | 510 | 0.03 | 0.58 |
| 15 | Maine profile | $18.29 | $38,030 | $36,040 | $46,660 | 160 | 0.26 | 5.37 |
| 16 | North Carolina profile | $18.28 | $38,020 | $30,160 | $47,410 | 300 | 0.06 | 1.25 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $17.90 | $37,230 | $28,820 | $48,150 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 18 | Indiana profile | $17.70 | $36,810 | $29,420 | $74,940 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| 19 | Colorado profile | $17.39 | $36,170 | $32,450 | $46,380 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 20 | Alabama profile | $17.29 | $35,970 | $27,060 | $44,880 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.63 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $17.28 | $35,950 | $26,480 | $46,210 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.47 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $17.28 | $35,940 | $30,180 | $48,050 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.72 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $17.09 | $35,540 | $28,760 | $47,610 | 400 | 0.04 | 0.84 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $16.77 | $34,870 | $28,210 | $53,900 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.41 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $15.61 | $32,470 | $29,110 | $41,020 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 26 | Oklahoma profile | $14.77 | $30,720 | $27,990 | $43,850 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.41 |
| 27 | Texas profile | $14.72 | $30,620 | $17,910 | $42,720 | 1,860 | 0.13 | 2.76 |
| 28 | Mississippi profile | $12.66 | $26,340 | $24,160 | $27,780 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| – | Oregon profile | * | * | * | * | 200 | 0.10 | 2.13 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-6040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-6041 Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-6041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.