Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders build operation and control, operations monitoring and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (87%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 87% | $42,660 | +20% | None |
| 2 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 87% | $46,570 | +31% | None |
| 3 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 82% | $46,460 | +30% | None |
| 4 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 81% | $50,270 | +41% | None |
| 5 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 79% | $46,550 | +31% | None |
| 6 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 79% | $42,770 | +20% | None |
| 7 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 79% | $46,170 | +30% | None |
| 8 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 78% | $54,430 | +53% | None |
| 9 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | 78% | $41,220 | +16% | None |
| 10 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 78% | $43,380 | +22% | None |
Compared with Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders, median $35,650. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as shoe machine operators and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
87% skill match · $42,660 · +20% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Technology Design · Repairing
87% skill match · $46,570 · +31% pay
Operations Monitoring · Operation and Control · Quality Control Analysis
82% skill match · $46,460 · +30% pay
Operation and Control · Operations Monitoring · Coordination
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (87% skill match, median $42,660), Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (87% skill match, median $46,570) and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (82% skill match, median $46,460), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 24 pay more than shoe machine operators and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Tire Builders (+61%, $57,390), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (+53%, $54,430) and Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (+51%, $53,710).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.