Life As a Shoe Machine Operator
Shoe Machine Operator Definition Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Life As a Shoe Machine Operator: What Do They Do?
- Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
- Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
- Turn screws to regulate size of staples.
- Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
- Turn setscrews on needle bars, and position required numbers of needles in stitching machines.
- Collect shoe parts from conveyer belts or racks and place them in machinery such as ovens or on molds for dressing, returning them to conveyers or racks to send them to the next work station.
Featured schools near , edit
Shoe Machine Operator Skills
When polled, Shoe Machine Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Shoe Reconditioner
- Edge Molder
- Shoe Laster
- Lining Stitcher
- Mc Kay Machine Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Shoe Machine Operators?
In the United States, there were 3,600 jobs for Shoe Machine Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Shoe Machine Operator. The BLS estimates 400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Shoe Machine Operator are Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Oregon, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Shoe Machine Operators Salary
The typical yearly salary for Shoe Machine Operators is somewhere between $19,020 and $40,410.

Shoe Machine Operators who work in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, or Maine, make the highest salaries.
How much do Shoe Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
California | $30,580 |
Florida | $35,140 |
Maine | $32,100 |
Massachusetts | $43,330 |
New York | $26,240 |
Pennsylvania | $25,050 |
Texas | $30,470 |
Washington | $32,060 |
Wisconsin | $32,300 |
What Tools & Technology do Shoe Machine Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Shoe Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Data entry software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft operating system
- Production control software
How do I Become a Shoe Machine Operator?
What kind of Shoe Machine Operator requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Shoe Machine Operator?

Where do Shoe Machine Operators Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Shoe Machine Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Shoe Machine Operator 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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |