Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC: 51-6042 O*NET: 51-6042.00
Median Salary
$38,160
per year
Job Growth
📉 -3.7%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
What does a Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$24,160
10th percentile
Early Career
$30,450
25th percentile
Median
$38,160
50th percentile
Experienced
$43,390
75th percentile
Top Earners
$47,860
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$24,160
25th
$30,450
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$38,160
Mean: $37,230
75th
$43,390
90th
$47,860
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $23,700 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $30,450 and $43,390
- •Salary spread is 33.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 3,270 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:4,100
Top Industries
Manufacturing98.8%
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing97.6%
Footwear Manufacturing97.2%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-3.7%
Annual Openings:400
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)4,100
Current
2034 (Projected)3,900
-3.7%
-200
Employment Change
-3.7%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders professionals work across the United States
Showing 6 of 6 locations
Maine
580 jobs$39,83042.74x
Texas
510 jobs$24,1601.72x
Minnesota
320 jobs$38,4205.16x
Wisconsin
90 jobs$40,7801.39x
New York
60 jobs$46,2900.29x
California
60 jobs$46,2400.16x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Reading Comprehension
100%
#2
Monitoring
88%
#3
Operations Monitoring
76%
#4
Critical Thinking
64%
#5
Operation and Control
52%
#6
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Reading Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
intermediate4.4
88%
Operations Monitoring
intermediate3.8
76%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.2
64%
Operation and Control
basic2.6
52%
Active Listening
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance88%
skills
4.4/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance76%
skills
3.8/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance64%
abilities
3.2/5.0
Operation and Control
basicImportance52%
abilities
2.6/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders100%
5 shared skills
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic83%
5 shared skills
Tire Builders83%
5 shared skills
Etchers and Engravers75%
5 shared skills
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Critical Thinking
- →Operation and Control
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Reading Comprehension
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Adobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
19
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (16)Planning & Development (1)Operations & Execution (2)
1
Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development97% perform98%
3
Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution94% perform96%
4
Cut excess thread or material from shoe parts, using scissors or knives.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Turn screws to regulate size of staples.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Turn setscrews on needle bars, and position required numbers of needles in stitching machines.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Switch on machines, lower pressure feet or rollers to secure parts, and start machine stitching, using hand, foot, or knee controls.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Collect shoe parts from conveyer belts or racks and place them in machinery such as ovens or on molds for dressing, returning them to conveyers or racks to send them to the next work station.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Position dies on material in a manner that will obtain the maximum number of parts from each portion of material.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •37% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.82
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.76
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.40
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.39
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.39
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.24
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.8
Attention to Detail
4.8
Self-Control
4.4
Cooperation
4.4
Stress Tolerance
4.4
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
Independence
4.2
Integrity
4.1
Achievement/Effort
3.8
Persistence
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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