How much does a shoe machine operator make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical shoe machine operator in the United States makes $35,650 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order, thread and set a machine, then line up shoe pieces to stitch or finish them. They check seams and edges, trim extra material, and clean or oil the machine.
Did you know? Jan Matzeliger’s improved shoe-lasting machine could shape up to 700 pairs a day—far more than a skilled worker could shape by hand.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $26,560 and $47,700How do you become one?
Most people finish high school or earn a GED, then learn the machine on the job; training can take days to a year. Many start after high school, often around 18, while younger workers face federal and state limits on factory and machine work.
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., pay can differ with experience, machine skills, employer or industry, and location. More demanding or specialized tasks may pay differently, and working more hours can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($48,420), lowest in Texas ($26,560).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $26,560 | $35,650 | $47,700 | about 3,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $48,420 | about 40 |
| California | $47,730 | about 30 |
| Maine | $39,850 | about 530 |
| Wisconsin | $37,970 | about 110 |
| Minnesota | $37,600 | about 370 |
Official definition: Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
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/details/51-6042.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-6042.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes516042.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
- www.invent.org/inductees/jan-ernst-matzeliger
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY