How much does a shoe machine operator make?
Answer: A typical shoe machine operator in the United States makes $35,650 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 3,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Shoe machine operator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $39,850 | about 530 |
| Texas | $26,560 | about 500 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a shoe machine operator do?
Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
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.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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