What You Need to Know About Shoe and Leather Worker or Repairer
Career Description Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles.
List of Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer Job Duties
- Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers’ feet.
- Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
- Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
- Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes.
- Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
- Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
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Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer Needed Skills
When polled, Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Types of Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer Jobs
- Finger Cobbler
- Bottom Cementer
- Harnessmaker
- Repairer
- Belt Maker
Job Demand for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 11,000 jobs in the United States for Shoe and Leather Worker or Repairer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Shoe and Leather Worker or Repairer. There will be an estimated 800 positions for Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer are Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer ranges between $19,440 and $39,790.

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers who work in Minnesota, Nevada, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $23,290 |
California | $32,210 |
Colorado | $30,720 |
Georgia | $19,140 |
Idaho | $30,900 |
Illinois | $29,170 |
Indiana | $31,310 |
Maine | $30,710 |
Massachusetts | $31,180 |
Michigan | $32,360 |
Minnesota | $35,320 |
Mississippi | $26,830 |
Missouri | $28,260 |
Montana | $21,010 |
Nevada | $36,360 |
New Hampshire | $35,090 |
New Jersey | $37,050 |
New York | $27,580 |
North Carolina | $25,790 |
Ohio | $26,700 |
Oklahoma | $22,520 |
Oregon | $28,590 |
Pennsylvania | $22,930 |
South Carolina | $27,790 |
Tennessee | $28,230 |
Texas | $28,200 |
Utah | $24,880 |
Virginia | $31,740 |
Washington | $32,450 |
Wisconsin | $28,360 |
What Tools do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Inventory tracking software
- Bookkeeping software
- Financial accounting software
- Sale processing software
Becoming a Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer
Education needed to be a Shoe and Leather Worker or Repairer:

What work experience do I need to become a Shoe & Leather Worker or Repairer?

Who Employs Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers?

Below are examples of industries where Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Shoe and Leather Worker or Repairer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Steven M O’Kelley via Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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