Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-6042) earn a median $35,650 a year ($17.14 an hour) in the United States, with 3,280 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What shoe machine operators and tenders do
Shoe machine operators and tenders work on the machines that stitch, join, decorate, reinforce, and finish shoes and shoe parts. Work orders and shoe part tags tell the worker the workload, specifications, and materials to be used. At a stitching station the operator aligns the parts along seams, edges, or markings before positioning them under the needle, draws thread through the guide slots and presser feet, lowers the pressure foot or rollers, and starts the machine using hand, foot, or knee controls. Some work involves loading rolls of wire through machine axles. After each run, the operator removes the pieces, checks the stitching and designs against specifications, and looks at the finished shoe for flaws. Routine upkeep, such as cleaning and lubricating machines and replacing broken needles, is part of the job.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, less than a high school diploma is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Anchor Operator, Anchorer, Ankle Patch Molder, Apron Trimmer, Arch Cushion Press Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.77 | $13.99 | $17.14 | $20.72 | $22.94 | $17.44 | 3,280 |
| Annual | $26,560 | $29,090 | $35,650 | $43,090 | $47,700 | $36,280 | ||
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 machine operators and tenders 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 | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.95 | $20.07 | $23.28 | $24.32 | $25.09 | $22.48 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.18 |
| Annual | $39,420 | $41,740 | $48,420 | $50,590 | $52,180 | $46,750 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.18 | $22.65 | $22.95 | $28.42 | $33.95 | $24.64 | 30 | 0.00 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $44,060 | $47,110 | $47,730 | $59,110 | $70,620 | $51,250 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $15.12 | $17.43 | $19.16 | $22.94 | $23.43 | $19.64 | 530 | 0.83 | 39.22 |
| Annual | $31,450 | $36,250 | $39,850 | $47,700 | $48,740 | $40,840 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $14.70 | $15.40 | $18.25 | $22.03 | $22.17 | $19.04 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $30,580 | $32,030 | $37,970 | $45,820 | $46,110 | $39,590 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $15.29 | $15.29 | $18.08 | $18.08 | $23.53 | $17.91 | 370 | 0.13 | 5.92 |
| Annual | $31,810 | $31,810 | $37,600 | $37,600 | $48,930 | $37,250 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maine | Hourly | $15.12 | $17.43 | $19.16 | $22.94 | $23.43 | $19.64 | 530 | 0.83 | 39.22 |
| Annual | $31,450 | $36,250 | $39,850 | $47,700 | $48,740 | $40,840 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $9.71 | $11.09 | $12.77 | $12.77 | $13.99 | $12.42 | 500 | 0.04 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $20,210 | $23,070 | $26,560 | $26,560 | $29,090 | $25,840 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $15.29 | $15.29 | $18.08 | $18.08 | $23.53 | $17.91 | 370 | 0.13 | 5.92 |
| Annual | $31,810 | $31,810 | $37,600 | $37,600 | $48,930 | $37,250 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $14.70 | $15.40 | $18.25 | $22.03 | $22.17 | $19.04 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $30,580 | $32,030 | $37,970 | $45,820 | $46,110 | $39,590 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.95 | $20.07 | $23.28 | $24.32 | $25.09 | $22.48 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.18 |
| Annual | $39,420 | $41,740 | $48,420 | $50,590 | $52,180 | $46,750 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.35 | $21.19 | $23.33 | $24.32 | $27.73 | $23.17 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $38,170 | $44,080 | $48,530 | $50,590 | $57,670 | $48,200 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.18 | $22.65 | $22.95 | $28.42 | $34.07 | $24.69 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| Annual | $44,060 | $47,110 | $47,730 | $59,120 | $70,860 | $51,360 | ||||
| El Paso, TX | Hourly | $8.15 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $13.99 | $11.66 | 170 | 0.50 | 23.82 |
| Annual | $16,960 | $23,070 | $23,070 | $23,070 | $29,090 | $24,240 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| El Paso, TX | Hourly | $8.15 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $13.99 | $11.66 | 170 | 0.50 | 23.82 |
| Annual | $16,960 | $23,070 | $23,070 | $23,070 | $29,090 | $24,240 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.35 | $21.19 | $23.33 | $24.32 | $27.73 | $23.17 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $38,170 | $44,080 | $48,530 | $50,590 | $57,670 | $48,200 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.18 | $22.65 | $22.95 | $28.42 | $34.07 | $24.69 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| Annual | $44,060 | $47,110 | $47,730 | $59,120 | $70,860 | $51,360 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $28,560 for shoe machine operators and tenders in May 2021 and $35,650 in May 2025, with employment of 3,610 and 3,280.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $28,560 | $13.73 | 3,610 |
| May 2022 | $33,060 | $15.89 | 2,960 |
| May 2023 | $36,970 | $17.78 | 4,630 |
| May 2024 | $38,160 | $18.35 | 3,270 |
| May 2025 | $35,650 | $17.14 | 3,280 |
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
6 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 | New York profile | $23.28 | $48,420 | $39,420 | $52,180 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.18 |
| 2 | California profile | $22.95 | $47,730 | $44,060 | $70,620 | 30 | 0.00 | 0.09 |
| 3 | Maine profile | $19.16 | $39,850 | $31,450 | $48,740 | 530 | 0.83 | 39.22 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $18.25 | $37,970 | $30,580 | $46,110 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.80 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $18.08 | $37,600 | $31,810 | $48,930 | 370 | 0.13 | 5.92 |
| 6 | Texas profile | $12.77 | $26,560 | $20,210 | $29,090 | 500 | 0.04 | 1.67 |
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 51-6042 Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders.
- 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.
- 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 51-6042, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6042.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- 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.