Production occupations · SOC 51-6042
Shoe machine operators and tenders
Shoe machine operators and tenders earned a median of $38,160 per year in the U.S. in 2024, employment is projected to decline -3.7% from 2024–2034, with about 400 openings projected each year. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Median annual pay
$38,160
Below the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations
Projected growth (2024–2034)
-3.7%
Declining vs the +3.1% projected for all occupations
Annual openings (avg)
400
Projected 2024–2034
Employed (2024)
4,100
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
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More occupations in this field
Occupations in the same federal BLS group (Production occupations), grouped by the standard occupational classification, not a curated related-occupation mapping.
Source & methodology
Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (Employment Projections). Wages are 2024; employment projections cover 2024–2034. Public domain (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Credit BLS.
- U.S. national figures only, wages and outlook vary by state, metro, employer, and experience.
- Median wage is the 2024 BLS estimate; projections are BLS model estimates for 2024–2034, not guarantees.
- Occupational data is national and is NOT an institution-specific or graduate outcome.
- Very high wages are capped by BLS and stored as null rather than a fabricated number.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2026). Shoe machine operators and tenders, occupation profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/careers/shoe-machine-operators-and-tenders
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