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Retail

Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer

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

Annual openings

11

Median wage

$36,170

Typical education

Education not reported

Growth 2026–2032

-4%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Education not reported

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

This is an entry-level role so no experience is required.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerNo
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsYes

Interests it draws on

  • Human Services

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
  2. Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
  3. Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
  4. Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
  5. Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
  6. Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
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