SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 51-6041.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $28,210 | $2,351 | $542 | $13.56 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $31,270 | $2,606 | $601 | $15.03 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $37,800 | $3,150 | $727 | $18.17 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $45,670 | $3,806 | $878 | $21.96 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $52,550 | $4,379 | $1,011 | $25.26 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers is $37,800, which is 26% lower. Among the 105 occupations of the field Production, it ranks number 98 by median pay. With 7,450 jobs, it makes up about 0.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Tennessee ($52,520), Washington ($48,310) and New Jersey ($46,790). The lowest was in Mississippi ($26,340), Texas ($30,620) and Oklahoma ($30,720). The most jobs were in Texas (1,860), California (510) and Massachusetts (500). The occupation is most concentrated in Maine, where its share of all jobs is 5.4 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 330 | $52,520 | $45,770 | $25.25 |
| Washington | 100 | $48,310 | $52,840 | $23.23 |
| New Jersey | 230 | $46,790 | $47,380 | $22.49 |
| Massachusetts | 500 | $46,550 | $47,220 | $22.38 |
| Arizona | 120 | $45,510 | $43,920 | $21.88 |
| Wisconsin | 460 | $44,000 | $41,830 | $21.15 |
| Illinois | 200 | $43,730 | $45,470 | $21.03 |
| Minnesota | 200 | $42,940 | $42,780 | $20.65 |
| New York | not published | $42,100 | $43,480 | $20.24 |
| New Hampshire | 30 | $40,800 | $43,440 | $19.62 |
| Idaho | 40 | $40,000 | $38,140 | $19.23 |
| Missouri | 240 | $38,700 | $38,980 | $18.61 |
| Utah | 70 | $38,700 | $38,770 | $18.60 |
| California | 510 | $38,130 | $41,020 | $18.33 |
| Maine | 160 | $38,030 | $41,500 | $18.29 |
| North Carolina | 300 | $38,020 | $38,180 | $18.28 |
| Virginia | 70 | $37,230 | $39,660 | $17.90 |
| Indiana | 80 | $36,810 | $42,820 | $17.70 |
| Colorado | 60 | $36,170 | $39,120 | $17.39 |
| Alabama | 60 | $35,970 | $35,480 | $17.29 |
| Ohio | 120 | $35,950 | $34,670 | $17.28 |
| Michigan | 150 | $35,940 | $38,420 | $17.28 |
| Florida | 400 | $35,540 | $37,460 | $17.09 |
| Pennsylvania | 120 | $34,870 | $38,130 | $16.77 |
| Georgia | 70 | $32,470 | $34,730 | $15.61 |
| Oklahoma | 30 | $30,720 | $33,250 | $14.77 |
| Texas | 1,860 | $30,620 | $31,900 | $14.72 |
| Mississippi | 40 | $26,340 | $26,890 | $12.66 |
| Oregon | 200 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$38,300 a year
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,180 a year
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$38,020 a year
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,280 a year
- Bakers$37,160 a year
- Sewing Machine Operators$36,670 a year
Common questions
How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $37,800 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,210 and the highest-paid 10% more than $52,550.
How many people work as Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers?
About 7,450 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.