Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for shoe and leather workers and repairerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$52,840
- New Jersey$47,380
- Massachusetts$47,220
- Tennessee$45,770
- Illinois$45,470
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$26,890
- Texas$31,900
- Oklahoma$33,250
- Ohio$34,670
- Georgia$34,730
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $52,840 | $48,310 | $25 | +34.9% | 100 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $47,380 | $46,790 | $23 | +21% | 230 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,220 | $46,550 | $23 | +20.6% | 500 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $45,770 | $52,520 | $22 | +16.9% | 330 |
| 5 | Illinois | $45,470 | $43,730 | $22 | +16.1% | 200 |
| 6 | Arizona | $43,920 | $45,510 | $21 | +12.2% | 120 |
| 7 | New York | $43,480 | $42,100 | $21 | +11% | — |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $43,440 | $40,800 | $21 | +10.9% | 30 |
| 9 | Indiana | $42,820 | $36,810 | $21 | +9.3% | 80 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $42,780 | $42,940 | $21 | +9.2% | 200 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,830 | $44,000 | $20 | +6.8% | 460 |
| 12 | Maine | $41,500 | $38,030 | $20 | +6% | 160 |
| 13 | California | $41,020 | $38,130 | $20 | +4.7% | 510 |
| 14 | Virginia | $39,660 | $37,230 | $19 | +1.3% | 70 |
| 15 | Colorado | $39,120 | $36,170 | $19 | -0.1% | 60 |
| 16 | Missouri | $38,980 | $38,700 | $19 | -0.5% | 240 |
| 17 | Utah | $38,770 | $38,700 | $19 | -1% | 70 |
| 18 | Michigan | $38,420 | $35,940 | $18 | -1.9% | 150 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $38,180 | $38,020 | $18 | -2.5% | 300 |
| 20 | Idaho | $38,140 | $40,000 | $18 | -2.6% | 40 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $38,130 | $34,870 | $18 | -2.6% | 120 |
| 22 | Florida | $37,460 | $35,540 | $18 | -4.3% | 400 |
| 23 | Alabama | $35,480 | $35,970 | $17 | -9.4% | 60 |
| 24 | Georgia | $34,730 | $32,470 | $17 | -11.3% | 70 |
| 25 | Ohio | $34,670 | $35,950 | $17 | -11.5% | 120 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $33,250 | $30,720 | $16 | -15.1% | 30 |
| 27 | Texas | $31,900 | $30,620 | $15 | -18.5% | 1,860 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $26,890 | $26,340 | $13 | -31.3% | 40 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 15 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,550 | $48,070 | 390 |
| 2 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $46,210 | $43,220 | 220 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,960 | $47,920 | 260 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,640 | $45,200 | 100 |
| 5 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,960 | $42,010 | 40 |
| 6 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,470 | $39,690 | 50 |
| 7 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,020 | $38,610 | 80 |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,900 | $37,580 | 440 |
| 9 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,810 | $40,580 | 220 |
| 10 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,300 | $40,640 | 90 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing shoe and leather workers and repairerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $52,520 | $48,290 | 350 |
| 2 | Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $52,520 | $48,400 | 340 |
| 3 | Sector 42 - Wholesale Trade | $52,520 | $48,290 | 350 |
| 4 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $45,510 | $42,880 | 160 |
| 5 | Sporting Goods Retailers | $45,510 | $42,880 | 160 |
| 6 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $45,230 | $42,750 | 170 |
| 7 | Shoe Retailers | $44,880 | $48,070 | 180 |
| 8 | Sectors 44 and 45 - Retail Trade | $41,130 | $43,130 | 490 |
| 9 | Repair and Maintenance | $39,960 | $42,220 | 550 |
| 10 | Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | $39,960 | $42,220 | 550 |
| 11 | Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $39,520 | $43,340 | 320 |
| 12 | Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | $38,900 | $39,160 | 100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do shoe and leather workers and repairers make in the U.S.?
The median shoe and leather workers and repairers salary in the United States is $37,800 per year (mean $39,160), and about 80% earn between $28,210 and $52,550.
How much do shoe and leather workers and repairers make per hour?
Roughly $19 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $39,160 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays shoe and leather workers and repairers the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for shoe and leather workers and repairers at $52,840 per year (median $48,310).
What is the job outlook for shoe and leather workers and repairers?
Employment is projected to change -3.8% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 900 openings per year.