Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a shoe machine operators and tenders in Minnesota is $37,600/year ($18.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $40,605 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 53.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Minnesota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $38K get you in Minnesota?
About shoe machine operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Shoe machine operators and tenders pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,384/month, which is 53.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level shoe machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track shoe machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a shoe machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 53.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for shoe machine operators and tenders in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new shoe machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,909/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 72% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is shoe machine operators and tender a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for shoe machine operators and tenders?
Minnesota pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do shoe machine operators and tenders make in Minnesota?
The median is $37,600 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,810, and experienced shoe machine operators and tenders can clear $48,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,585/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 53.5% 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 machine operators and tenders salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $40,605 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do shoe machine operators and tenders 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.