Expand mobile version menu

Shoe and Leather Worker

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Career Video

About This Career

Constructs, decorates, or repairs leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Dyes, soaks, polishes, paints, stamps, stitches, stains, buffs, or engraves leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
  • Cuts out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
  • Constructs, decorates, or repairs leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
  • Repairs and reconditions leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
  • Aligns and stitches or glues materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
  • Inspects articles for defects, and removes damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
  • Drills or punches holes and inserts or attaches metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
  • Prepares inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
  • Dresses and otherwise finishes boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
  • Attaches insoles to shoe lasts, affixes shoe uppers, and applies heels and outsoles.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Cobbler
  • Stitcher
  • Boot Maker
  • Cutter
  • Leather Worker
  • Saddle and Harness Maker
  • Shoe Cutter
  • Shoe Maker
  • Shoe Repairer
  • Shoe Repairman

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support