Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a shoe machine operators and tenders in Wisconsin is $37,970/year ($18.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $40,252 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 46.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $38K get you in Wisconsin?
About shoe machine operators and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Wisconsin
Shoe machine operators and tenders pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 45.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level shoe machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K 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 Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a shoe machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 45.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new shoe machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,835/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for shoe machine operators and tenders?
Wisconsin pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do shoe machine operators and tenders make in Wisconsin?
The median is $37,970 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,580, and experienced shoe machine operators and tenders can clear $46,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,630/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 45.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $40,252 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.