Jobs Similar to Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to shoe and leather workers and repairers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Furniture Finishers, Carpet Installers and Upholsterers.
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers: $37,800 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furniture Finishers | 78% | $44,540+18% | High school |
| 2 | Carpet Installers | 77% | $50,340+33% | High school |
| 3 | UpholsterersSame group | 76% | $46,340+23% | High school |
| 4 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 76% | $46,880+24% | High school |
| 5 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 74% | $41,600+10% | High school |
| 6 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 74% | $52,540+39% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 73% | $46,170+22% | High school |
| 8 | Paperhangers | 73% | $52,140+38% | High school |
| 9 | Tire Builders | 73% | $57,390+52% | High school |
| 10 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 73% | $48,110+27% | High school |
| 11 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 73% | $43,960+16% | High school |
| 12 | Bakers | 73% | $37,160−2% | High school |
| 13 | Plasterers and Stucco Masons | 72% | $57,660+53% | High school |
| 14 | Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | 72% | $46,170Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 15 | Sewers, HandSame group | 72% | $36,480−3% | High school |
| 16 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 72% | $51,330+36% | High school |
| 17 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersSame group | 72% | $34,890−8% | High school |
| 18 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom SewersSame group | 72% | $41,640+10% | High school |
| 19 | Stonemasons | 72% | $57,390+52% | High school |
| 20 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 71% | $56,460+49% | High school |
- 1Furniture Finishers
78% similar · $44,540 (+18%) · High school
- 2Carpet Installers
77% similar · $50,340 (+33%) · High school
- 3Upholsterers
76% similar · $46,340 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 4Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
76% similar · $46,880 (+24%) · High school
- 5Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
74% similar · $41,600 (+10%) · High school
- 6Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
74% similar · $52,540 (+39%) · Training or associate
- 7Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
73% similar · $46,170 (+22%) · High school
- 8Paperhangers
73% similar · $52,140 (+38%) · High school
- 9Tire Builders
73% similar · $57,390 (+52%) · High school
- 10Foundry Mold and Coremakers
73% similar · $48,110 (+27%) · High school
- 11Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
73% similar · $43,960 (+16%) · High school
- 12Bakers
73% similar · $37,160 (−2%) · High school
- 13Plasterers and Stucco Masons
72% similar · $57,660 (+53%) · High school
- 14Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
72% similar · $46,170 (broader group) · High school
- 15Sewers, Hand
72% similar · $36,480 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 16Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
72% similar · $51,330 (+36%) · High school
- 17Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
72% similar · $34,890 (−8%) · High school · Same group
- 18Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
72% similar · $41,640 (+10%) · High school · Same group
- 19Stonemasons
72% similar · $57,390 (+52%) · High school
- 20Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
71% similar · $56,460 (+49%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than shoe and leather workers and repairers.
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons72% similar · $57,660 (+53%)
- Tire Builders73% similar · $57,390 (+52%)
- Stonemasons72% similar · $57,390 (+52%)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles71% similar · $56,460 (+49%)
- Paperhangers73% similar · $52,140 (+38%)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters72% similar · $51,330 (+36%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for shoe and leather workers and repairers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where shoe and leather workers and repairers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Furniture Finishers (79)
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (74)
- Bakers (73)
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (70)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters (69)
- Gem and Diamond Workers (69)
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers (69)
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (67)
- Potters, Manufacturing (65)
- Floral Designers (62)
Questions about jobs like shoe and leather workers and repairers
What jobs are most similar to shoe and leather workers and repairers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Furniture Finishers (78% similar), Carpet Installers (77% similar), Upholsterers (76% similar), Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (76% similar) and Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (74% similar).
Which jobs like shoe and leather workers and repairers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Plasterers and Stucco Masons ($57,660, +53%; usually a high school diploma), Tire Builders ($57,390, +52%; usually a high school diploma) and Stonemasons ($57,390, +52%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with shoe and leather workers and repairers ($37,800). Without more preparation than shoe and leather workers and repairers usually need: Plasterers and Stucco Masons, Tire Builders and Stonemasons.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.