Manufacturing51-6042.00Specialization

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.

$36,970
Median Pay
Less than 6 months
Training
🟠
In Transition

This is a specialization of

Textile Workers

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 2/6: low AI task exposure, declining job demand, limited human advantage indicates this career is being transformed by AI

🟠In Transition

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Low+2

9% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Declining+0

-4% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Weak+0

EPOCH score: 9/25

Total Score2/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

Key Responsibilities

  • Inspect finished products to ensure that shoes have been completed according to specifications.
  • Align parts to be stitched, following seams, edges, or markings, before positioning them under needles.
  • Operate or tend machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
  • Remove and examine shoes, shoe parts, and designs to verify conformance to specifications such as proper embedding of stitches in channels.
  • Switch on machines, lower pressure feet or rollers to secure parts, and start machine stitching, using hand, foot, or knee controls.
  • Draw thread through machine guide slots, needles, and presser feet in preparation for stitching, or load rolls of wire through machine axles.
  • Study work orders or shoe part tags to obtain information about workloads, specifications, and the types of materials to be used.
  • Perform routine equipment maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating machines or replacing broken needles.
  • Test machinery to ensure proper functioning before beginning production.
  • Select and place spools of thread or pre-wound bobbins into shuttles, or onto spindles or loupers of stitching machines.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Less than high school

Time to Job Ready

0-1 years

Based on Job Zone 2. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Microsoft ExcelProduction control softwareInventory systemsQuality tracking

Key Abilities

Near VisionArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionManual DexterityFinger DexterityOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityPerceptual SpeedSelective AttentionMultilimb Coordination

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Compensation Details

$27,950
10th Percentile
$36,970
Median
$45,380
90th Percentile

Based on 4,630 employed workers

Also Known As

Anchor OperatorAnchorerAnkle Patch MolderApron TrimmerArch Cushion Press OperatorArcherBack CloserBack StayerBack Strip Machine OperatorBack Wedger

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 51-6042.00