SalaryExplorer

SOC 51-6042 · May 2025 · United States

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area

$35,650 /year
$17.14per hour
3,280jobs nationwide
6states with data

The median wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders across the United States is $35,650 per year, measured over 3,280 jobs. The highest state median is in New York, at $48,420.

National wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

10TH$26,56025TH$29,090MEDIAN$35,65075TH$43,09090TH$47,700

The next ten years

Projected to decline

Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
-3.7%
Openings per year
400
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.

19.0% of people in this occupation work for themselves.

Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.

Where the pay is highest for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Pay for this occupation varies by 82.3% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. New York pays $48,420 and Texas pays $26,560.

Top-paying states · median annual wage · May 2025
#StateMedianJobsRelative
1New York$48,42040
2California$47,73030
3Maine$39,850530
4Wisconsin$37,970110
5Minnesota$37,600370
6Texas$26,560500

States with the most Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders jobs

States ranked by employment · May 2025
#StateJobsMedianRelative
1Maine530$39,850
2Texas500$26,560
3Minnesota370$37,600
4Wisconsin110$37,970
5New York40$48,420
6California30$47,730

Top-paying metro areas

Metro areas ranked by median annual wage
#Metro areaMedianJobs
1New York$48,53040
2Los Angeles$47,73030
3El Paso$23,070170

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in the US (2025): $35,650 Median | Salary Explorer