Production

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

7/100
#816 of 825
$37,800
median pay, U.S.
7,450
employed (2024)
-3.8%
growth, 2024–34
900
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is shoe and leather workers and repairers a good career?

It scores 7/100 and ranks #816 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($37,800 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-3.8% through 2034)

What shoe and leather workers and repairers earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. shoe and leather workers and repairers earn between $31,270 and $45,670 a year.

Best-paying states

Tennessee statewide
$52,520
Washington statewide
$48,310
New Jersey statewide
$46,790
Massachusetts statewide
$46,550
Arizona statewide
$45,510
Wisconsin statewide
$44,000
Illinois statewide
$43,730
Minnesota statewide
$42,940
New York statewide
$42,100
New Hampshire statewide
$40,800
$20k $60k $100k

Best-paying metros

01 Boston, MA $46,550
02 Milwaukee, WI $46,210
03 New York, NY $45,960
04 Minneapolis, MN $45,640
05 Philadelphia, PA $39,960
06 Raleigh, NC $38,020
07 Dallas, TX $37,900
08 Los Angeles, CA $37,810

Strongest employment concentration

01 Texas 1,860
02 California 510
03 Massachusetts 500
04 Wisconsin 460
05 Florida 400
06 Tennessee 330

Live shoe and leather workers and repairers jobs

No live shoe and leather workers and repairers openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified shoe and leather workers and repairers openings will appear here — each shown against the $37,800 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a shoe and leather workers and repairer

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

No formal educational credential · $34,890 median
No formal educational credential · $36,670 median
No formal educational credential · $35,060 median
Questions about becoming a shoe and leather workers and repairer
How much do shoe and leather workers and repairers make?

The national median wage is $37,800 a year, with the middle half earning between $31,270 and $45,670 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is shoe and leather workers and repairers a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 7 of 100 and ranks #816 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -3.8% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a shoe and leather workers and repairer?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do shoe and leather workers and repairers earn the most?

Among states, Tennessee pays the highest median ($52,520). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →