Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salary in Illinois
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in Illinois earn a median of $43,730 a year ($21.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,920 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $37,800. Illinois ranks 7th of 28 states for shoe and leather workers and repairers pay. There are 0.03 shoe and leather workers and repairers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $45,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for shoe and leather workers and repairers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Median | $43,730 | $21.03 |
| 75th percentile | $58,680 | $28.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Average (mean) | $45,470 | $21.86 |
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 | $3,644.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,822.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,681.92 |
| Weekly | $840.96 |
| Hourly | $21.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for shoe and leather workers and repairers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $52,520 |
| Washington | $48,310 |
| New Jersey | $46,790 |
| Massachusetts | $46,550 |
| Arizona | $45,510 |
| Wisconsin | $44,000 |
| Illinois | $43,730 |
| Minnesota | $42,940 |
| New York | $42,100 |
| New Hampshire | $40,800 |
See Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Upholsterer | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for shoe and leather workers and repairers in Illinois is $43,730 a year, or $21.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid shoe and leather workers and repairers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of shoe and leather workers and repairers in Illinois earn at least $58,920 a year. The top 25% earn $58,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for shoe and leather workers and repairers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of shoe and leather workers and repairers earn $36,000 or less.
How many shoe and leather workers and repairers work in Illinois?
About 200 shoe and leather workers and repairers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.