Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median shoe machine operators and tenders salary in the United States is $35,650 per year ($17.14/hour). Salaries range from $26,560 at the entry level to $47,700+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,280 shoe machine operators and tenders jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 3.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$35,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.14
per hour
Employment
3,280
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$26,560
25th percentile
$29,090
Median
$35,650
75th percentile
$43,090
90th percentile
$47,700
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-3.7%
Decline
Annual Openings
400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Limited data available — BLS only publishes salary data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
Salary Map — Click a state for details
$27K$48K■ No data
Top Paying States
New York
$48K
+36%
California
$48K
+34%
Maine
$40K
+12%
Wisconsin
$38K
+7%
Minnesota
$38K
+5%
Texas
$27K
-25%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $48,530 | +36.1% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,730 | +33.9% |
| El Paso, TX | $23,070 | -35.3% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A shoe machine operators and tenders earning $35,650/year would need 1672 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1795 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how shoe machine operators and tenders salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders salary trend (2011–2024) →