Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers Salary
The median pay for a shoe and leather workers and repairers in Tennessee is $52,520/year ($25.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $58,499 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Tennessee?
About shoe and leather workers and repairers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for shoe and leather workers and repairers, local pay runs about 39% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level shoe and leather workers and repairers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track shoe and leather workers and repairers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a shoe and leather workers and repairer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 33% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for shoe and leather workers and repairers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new shoe and leather workers and repairers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,042/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is shoe and leather workers and repairer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 39% above the national median — $53K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for shoe and leather workers and repairers?
Tennessee pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do shoe and leather workers and repairers make in Tennessee?
The median is $52,520 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,030, and experienced shoe and leather workers and repairers can clear $52,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,687/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 33% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a shoe and leather workers and repairers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median shoe and leather workers and repairers salary is worth about $58,499 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do shoe and leather workers and repairers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.