Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$37,800
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$18.17
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$52,550
entry level starts ~$28,210
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 7,000 employed

How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers make?

The median pay for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in the United States is $37,800 per year — about $18.17 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $28,210, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $52,550.

That is $23,590 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salary range by percentile

Half of all Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers earn between $31,270 and $45,670 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,210$13.56
25th percentile (early career)$31,270$15.03
50th percentile (median)$37,800$18.17
75th percentile (experienced)$45,670$21.96
90th percentile (top earners)$52,550$25.26

Highest-paying states for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Tennessee leads the country for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers pay at $52,520 a year, followed by Washington ($48,310) and New Jersey ($46,790). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $26,340 — a gap of $26,180 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Tennessee$52,520$25.25+39%
2Washington$48,310$23.23+28%
3New Jersey$46,790$22.50+24%
4Massachusetts$46,550$22.38+23%
5Arizona$45,510$21.88+20%

Workforce and education

About 7,000 people work as Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $39,160 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers make in the United States?
The median Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers salary in the United States is $37,800 per year, or about $18.17 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,210, while the top 10% of earners make $52,550 or more.
How does Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers median of $37,800 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers the most?
Tennessee is the highest-paying state for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers, with a median salary of $52,520 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers work in the United States?
About 7,000 people were employed as Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.

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$36,480
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Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators

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Production Worker, All Other

$40,110
median pay · 252,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.