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Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders

People classed as Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts. The skills rated most useful are reading comprehension, operations monitoring, and operation and control. One core duty is to inspect finished products to ensure that shoes have been completed according to specifications. Interest ratings put Realistic on top at 6.7 out of 7 and Conventional second, so the code is RCI and the day leans toward hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Getting in usually takes a few months to a year of learning on the job, a level O*NET calls some preparation. It tends to suit people who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, and it offers little for anyone seeking helping, teaching or caring for people.

What they do

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

Main tasks

  • 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.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and operations monitoring.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want helping people to be at the center of your work. Social rates 1.3 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Boot Maker
  • Cobbler
  • Inseamer
  • Insole Department Worker
  • Shoe Cementer

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.