1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Shoe repairer

Shoe repairer

Alternative titles for this job include

Shoe repairers mend footwear and items like belts and bags.

Average salary (a year)

£14,500 Starter

to

£24,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

39 to 45 a week

You could work

weekends

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a shoe repairer

You can get into this job by applying directly.

Direct Application

You could apply directly for a job as a trainee with a shoe repair company.

Some employers may give you a short assessment to test your English, basic maths and practical skills. Most will expect you to have the potential to develop excellent customer service skills.

You'll learn mostly on-the-job. Some employers have their own training centres where you may also spend some time.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • greet customers and price up work to be done
  • replace worn out soles and heels
  • carry out more complicated repairs, like renew stitching and welts
  • build up soles and heels
  • clean, polish, dye or stain shoes
  • replace buckles, laces, zips or straps
  • maintain equipment, sharpen cutting tools and service machinery
  • sell items and take cash and card payments

Working environment

You could work at a store.

Your working environment may be noisy and dusty.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could learn additional skills like engraving, watch repair and key cutting, as some shoe repairers also offer these services.

With experience you may be able to work your way up to a supervisor or manager position with the shoe repair company.

You could become self-employed and open your own shoe repair business.

You could use your customer service skills in other retail roles or put your practical skills to use in other types of repair or craft work.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a shoe repairer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a shoe repairer?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.