Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salary in the U.S.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in the U.S. earn a median of $37,800 a year ($18.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,550 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $39,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for shoe and leather workers and repairers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| 25th percentile | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| Median | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 75th percentile | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,550 | $25.26 |
| Average (mean) | $39,160 | $18.83 |
Half of shoe and leather workers and repairers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,150 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,575 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,453.85 |
| Weekly | $726.92 |
| Hourly | $18.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,800 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $52,520 | 330 |
| Washington | $48,310 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $46,790 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,550 | 500 |
| Arizona | $45,510 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $44,000 | 460 |
| Illinois | $43,730 | 200 |
| Minnesota | $42,940 | 200 |
| New York | $42,100 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $40,800 | 30 |
| Idaho | $40,000 | 40 |
| Missouri | $38,700 | 240 |
| Utah | $38,700 | 70 |
| California | $38,130 | 510 |
| Maine | $38,030 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $38,020 | 300 |
| Virginia | $37,230 | 70 |
| Indiana | $36,810 | 80 |
| Colorado | $36,170 | 60 |
| Alabama | $35,970 | 60 |
| Ohio | $35,950 | 120 |
| Michigan | $35,940 | 150 |
| Florida | $35,540 | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,870 | 120 |
| Georgia | $32,470 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $30,720 | 30 |
| Texas | $30,620 | 1,860 |
| Mississippi | $26,340 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for shoe and leather workers and repairers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,550 | 390 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $46,210 | 220 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,960 | 260 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,640 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,960 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $38,020 | 80 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,900 | 440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,810 | 220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $35,470 | 80 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $32,050 | n/a |
| Jacksonville, FL | $30,120 | 50 |
| El Paso, TX | $26,860 | 340 |
Metro areas with the most shoe and leather workers and repairers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 440 | $37,900 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 390 | $46,550 |
| El Paso, TX | 340 | $26,860 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 260 | $45,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 220 | $37,810 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 220 | $46,210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 100 | $45,640 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 80 | $38,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 80 | $35,470 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 50 | $30,120 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 40 | $39,960 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,060 | $16.85 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Upholsterer | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | $17.93 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a shoe and leather workers and repairers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for shoe and leather workers and repairers in the U.S. is $37,800 a year, or $18.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid shoe and leather workers and repairers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of shoe and leather workers and repairers in the U.S. earn at least $52,550 a year. The top 25% earn $45,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for shoe and leather workers and repairers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,210 a year, and a quarter of shoe and leather workers and repairers earn $31,270 or less.
How many shoe and leather workers and repairers work in the U.S.?
About 7,450 shoe and leather workers and repairers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.