What Do Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers

Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

Salary
$31480
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

  • Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
  • Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.
  • Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.
  • Cement, nail or sew soles and heels to shoes.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Shoe and Leather Workers repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing, and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment. They attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.

A typical day for a Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer will also include:

  • Clean and polish shoes.
  • Cement, nail or sew soles and heels to shoes.
  • Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.
  • Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.
  • Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Shoe and Leather Workers also make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors’ prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs. They may also re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Shoe and Leather Workers measure customers for fit, and discuss with them the type of footwear to be made, recommending details such as leather quality. They might also read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.

In addition, they prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers’ feet.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them stretch shoes, dampening parts, and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.

To some Shoe and Leather Workers, it is also their responsibility to repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is declining.

How much do they make

Average salary

$31480 per year

Average hourly wage

$15 per hour

Entry-level Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $21,050 to $25,570 per year or $10 to $12 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $41,510 $20
Senior (Top 25%) $37,160 $18
Median $30,550 $15
Junior (Bottom 25%) $25,570 $12
No experience (Bottom 10%) $21,050 $10

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Shoe Stores $36780 $17.68
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing $32900 $15.82
Footwear Manufacturing $31880 $15.33
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores $31550 $15.17
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing $31540 $15.16
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing $31530 $15.16
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers $30700 $14.76
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing $30100 $14.47
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance $29260 $14.07
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores $28360 $13.63

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Shoe And Leather Workers And Repairers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance 1950 $29260 $14.07
Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing 1900 $31540 $15.16
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 880 $31550 $15.17
Footwear Manufacturing 600 $31880 $15.33
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing 560 $31530 $15.16
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 230 $28360 $13.63
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing 90 $32900 $15.82
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing 50 $30100 $14.47
Employment Services 40 $23720 $11.40
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers $30700 $14.76

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
12%

40 hours
52%

More than 40 hours
36%

Working schedule

86%

14%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
2%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
21%

Every day
50%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
18%

Every day
62%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
94%

Once a year
2%

Once a month
4%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
49%

Slightly competitive
9%

Moderately competitive
25%

Highly competitive
13%

Extremely competitive
5%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
10%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
87%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
82%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
2%

Every day
12%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
65%

Once a year or more
23%

Once a month or more
9%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
3%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
88%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
12%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
18%

High School Diploma or equivalent
56%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
22%

Associate’s Degree or similar
2%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
2%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Shoe, Boot and Leather Repair

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair all types of footwear, including replacement and mending of worn parts, repairing orthopedic footwear, refinishing and dyeing leather, and repairing other leather goods such as handbags, belts, and luggage.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
43%

1 month
3%

1 to 3 months
12%

3 to 6 months
11%

6 months to 1 year
4%

1 to 2 years
16%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 6 years
8%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
20%

1 to 3 months
33%

3 to 6 months
24%

6 months to 1 year
10%

1 to 2 years
11%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
24%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
57%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
24%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
24%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
67%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
38%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
33%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
24%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
38%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
48%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
38%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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