Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in Illinois
Considering working as a Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers in Illinois? Here’s what you need to know. Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
What do Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Make in Illinois?
For a shoe and leather workers and repairers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $38,790 per year (or roughly $18.65/hour).Pay can range from $29,120 at the 10th percentile to $55,230 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| 25th percentile | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Median (50th) | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| 75th percentile | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 90th percentile | $55,230 | $26.55 |
The job concentration index in Illinois relative to the national average — is 0.58, suggesting fewer shoe and leather workers and repairers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, shoe and leather workers and repairers earn a median of $39,627 per year ($19.05/hour), below the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 215,892 shoe and leather workers and repairers in the U.S.. In Illinois alone, around 170 people work in this role. That matches the typical state median of 170.
Top States for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Employment
These states have the highest employment of shoe and leather workers and repairers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 1,870 |
| California | 600 |
| Florida | 520 |
| Massachusetts | 510 |
| Wisconsin | 420 |
| Tennessee | 380 |
| Oregon | 310 |
| New Jersey | 230 |
| New York | 200 |
| Arkansas | 180 |
| Missouri | 180 |
| Illinois | 170 |
| Ohio | 170 |
| North Carolina | 170 |
| Maine | 160 |
| Minnesota | 160 |
| Georgia | 150 |
| Virginia | 100 |
| Michigan | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | 70 |
Highest-Paying States for Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Where shoe and leather workers and repairers earn the most: shoe and leather workers and repairers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,670 |
| Tennessee | $50,790 |
| Iowa | $48,010 |
| New York | $43,740 |
| Wisconsin | $40,440 |
| Arizona | $40,260 |
| Oregon | $39,680 |
| Minnesota | $39,350 |
| Montana | $39,250 |
| Illinois | $38,790 |
Skills
The most important shoe and leather workers and repairers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for shoe and leather workers and repairers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
- Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
- Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
- Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
- Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
- Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
- Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
- Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
- Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
- Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.
- Clean and polish shoes.
- Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Leatherworking & Upholstery
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like shoe and leather workers and repairers include:
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
- Sewing Machine Operators
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Also Known As
Back Shoe Cutter, Bench Hand, Boot Maker, Boot Repairer, Boot and Saddle Repair Person, Bootmaker, Cobbler, Custom Leather Products Maker, Custom Shoe Maker, Custom Shoemaker, Dyer, Finger Cobbler, Footwear Stitcher, Hand Bootmaker, Harness Maker.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-6041.00