How much does a shoe repairer make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical shoe repairer in the United States makes $37,800 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They inspect worn shoes, remove old soles or heels, then cut and sand replacements and attach them with glue, stitches, or nails. They trim, polish, or dye the repair and may talk with customers about the job and cost.
Did you know? A U.S. cobbler once made a corkscrew-shaped tail for a pig-shaped footstool—not just shoes!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $28,210 and $52,550How do you become one?
A high school diploma or GED is usual but not always needed; most shoe repairers learn on the job, and O*NET lists shoe-repair apprenticeships. U.S. registered apprenticeships can start at 16, though a program may set a higher minimum age.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and skill matter: people who can handle difficult or specialized repairs may earn more. Pay also varies by location and workplace; shop owners or managers may earn more than repair employees.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Tennessee ($52,520), lowest in Mississippi ($26,340).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28,210 | $37,800 | $52,550 | about 7,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $52,520 | about 330 |
| Washington | $48,310 | about 100 |
| New Jersey | $46,790 | about 230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,550 | about 500 |
| Arizona | $45,510 | about 120 |
Official definition: Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-6041.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2007/summer/yawhat.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.ssia.info/careers-in-shoe-repair
- www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title29-vol1/pdf/CFR-2024-title29-vol1-part
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY