Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

What shoe and leather workers and repairers do

Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.

Typical tasks

1. 1Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
2. 2Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
3. 3Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
4. 4Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
5. 5Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
6. 6Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
7. 7Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
8. 8Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
9. 9Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
10. 10Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.

Technology used

• Microsoft Excel

How to become one

Education

The most common level among workers surveyed is a high school diploma (56%). Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Training

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.