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Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salaries by State

Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for shoe machine operators and tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).

National mean salary $36,280 ≈ $17/hr
National median salary $35,650
Total employment 3,280 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth -3.7% Decline
Annual openings 400 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 4,100 → 3,900 (-200)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $26,000–$37,000 $37,000–$40,000 $40,000–$41,000 $41,000–$47,000 $47,000–$51,000 U.S. mean $36,280

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. California$51,250
  2. New York$46,750
  3. Maine$40,840
  4. Wisconsin$39,590
  5. Minnesota$37,250

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. Texas$25,840
  2. Minnesota$37,250
  3. Wisconsin$39,590
  4. Maine$40,840
  5. New York$46,750

State Rankings

⇄ Compare specific states
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. U.S.Employment
1 California $51,250 $47,730 $25 +41.3% 30
2 New York $46,750 $48,420 $22 +28.9% 40
3 Maine $40,840 $39,850 $20 +12.6% 530
4 Wisconsin $39,590 $37,970 $19 +9.1% 110
5 Minnesota $37,250 $37,600 $18 +2.7% 370
6 Texas $25,840 $26,560 $12 -28.8% 500

Top-Paying Metro Areas

Highest median pay among 3 metro areas.

#Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
1 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,530 $48,200 40
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $47,730 $51,360 30
3 El Paso, TX $23,070 $24,240 170

Pay by Industry

Highest-paying industries employing shoe machine operators and tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
1 Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing $35,650 $36,290 3,270
2 Footwear Manufacturing $35,650 $36,290 3,260
3 Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local $35,650 $36,280 3,280
4 Cross-industry, Private Ownership only $35,650 $36,280 3,280
5 Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing $35,650 $36,290 3,270

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do shoe machine operators and tenders make in the U.S.?

The median shoe machine operators and tenders salary in the United States is $35,650 per year (mean $36,280), and about 80% earn between $26,560 and $47,700.

How much do shoe machine operators and tenders make per hour?

Roughly $17 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $36,280 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Which state pays shoe machine operators and tenders the most?

California has the highest average pay for shoe machine operators and tenders at $51,250 per year (median $47,730).

What is the job outlook for shoe machine operators and tenders?

Employment is projected to change -3.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 400 openings per year.