Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
What They Do
Shoe machine operators and tenders work in manufacturing facilities operating specialized equipment that assembles, decorates, and finishes footwear. They spend their days running machines that perform specific tasks in the shoemaking process, such as stitching shoe uppers together, attaching soles to shoe bodies, applying adhesives, trimming excess materials, or adding decorative elements like logos and patterns. These workers monitor their machines throughout production runs, making adjustments to ensure consistent quality and proper functioning. They load materials into machines, position shoe components correctly, and remove finished products once the machine completes its cycle.
Programs That Prepare You
College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings
