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.

Also Known As:

Boot Maker Cobbler Leather Worker Saddle and Harness Maker Shoe Cutter Shoe Maker Shoe Repairer Shoe Repairman Stitcher

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

8,300

-12% Change From 2023

Explore Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.
Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.
Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.
Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.
Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes.
Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
Clean and polish shoes.
Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue.
Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers.
Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.
Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.
Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.
Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.
Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.
Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.
Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.
Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.
Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.
Clean and polish shoes.
Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.
Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs.
Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.
Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.
Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.