SOC 51-6042 · Production Occupations

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$35,650

U.S. median hourly wage$17.14

U.S. employment3,280

Nationally, shoe machine operators and tenders earned a median of $35,650 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 3,280 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by state
State
New York	$48,420	$23.28	40	0.0
California	$47,730	$22.95	30	0.0
Maine	$39,850	$19.16	530	0.8
Wisconsin	$37,970	$18.25	110	0.0
Minnesota	$37,600	$18.08	370	0.1
Texas	$26,560	$12.77	500	0.0

Pay by metro area

All 3 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$48,530	$23.33	40	0.0
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$47,730	$22.95	30	0.0
El Paso, TX	$23,070	$11.09	170	0.5

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.