Prevailing Wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
The prevailing wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-6042) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must offer when sponsoring a work visa or green card for this role. Whether your job title reads Cobbler, Boot Maker, or Shoe Cementer, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on where the worksite is located.
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Level 1 covers entry-level workers with limited experience performing routine, closely supervised tasks on shoe machinery. Employers filing at this level typically hire candidates new to production-floor shoe manufacturing with no specialized trade background.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders. It applies to workers with some hands-on experience handling multiple machine types, requiring moderate judgment and minimal supervision during standard production runs.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who work independently across complex or varied shoe construction processes. These workers often handle non-routine production issues, troubleshoot equipment, and may informally guide newer colleagues on technique.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent professionals with comprehensive expertise, often in a lead or senior capacity. They may coordinate production workflows, enforce quality standards, and are expected to operate all relevant machinery without oversight.
Prevailing Wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Watch the worksite city on your LCA
Shoe machine operator wages vary sharply by metro. Los Angeles and New York post significantly higher floors than El Paso. Your LCA must list the actual production worksite, so a national offer letter does not override the city-specific prevailing wage requirement.
Confirm your filed level matches your machine scope
Employers sometimes file at Level 1 for workers operating multiple specialized lasting or cementing machines, which DOL typically associates with Level 2 or higher. Verify that the range of machines and supervision described in your LCA matches your actual daily duties.
Separate production bonuses from base wage compliance
Piece-rate bonuses and production incentives common in footwear manufacturing do not count toward meeting the prevailing wage floor. DOL requires the base hourly or annual wage alone to clear the certified level, not a blended total including variable pay.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with cobbler role history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders, so you can focus applications on footwear manufacturers and repair operations with a documented record of filing petitions for this occupation.
Jobs for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6042.00 alongside Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Boot Maker Prevailing Wage
Boot Maker Prevailing Wage
Boot Maker positions fall under SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cobbler Prevailing Wage
Cobbler Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cobbler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Inseamer Prevailing Wage
Inseamer Prevailing Wage
Inseamer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Insole Department Worker Prevailing Wage
Insole Department Worker Prevailing Wage
Insole Department Worker positions fall under SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Shoe Cementer Prevailing Wage
Shoe Cementer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Shoe Cementer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Shoe Maker Prevailing Wage
Shoe Maker Prevailing Wage
Shoe Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Side Laster Prevailing Wage
Side Laster Prevailing Wage
Side Laster positions fall under SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Stitcher Prevailing Wage
Stitcher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Stitcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Toe Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Toe Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Toe Trimmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6042.00 (Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 51-6042, it calculates four wage levels based on percentile distributions of reported wages for that occupation within each surveyed area. Employers filing an LCA through OFLC must certify they will pay at least the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines the four levels by experience, complexity, and supervision. Level 1 is entry-level with close oversight; Level 2 reflects qualified workers with some independent judgment; Level 3 covers experienced operators working without routine supervision; Level 4 applies to fully competent senior workers in lead roles. Your level should match the duties and supervision described in your actual position, not just your job title.
Why does the same Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders role pay so differently across cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 51-6042. A certified wage in Los Angeles reflects local labor market rates for footwear production workers, which differ substantially from those in El Paso. The LCA worksite rule requires using the wage for the city where the employee physically works, not the employer's headquarters or any national average.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve a petition backed by an LCA that certifies a wage below the DOL floor for the worksite and level. If the offered salary is deficient, OFLC can decertify the LCA and the employer cannot file the underlying visa petition. Workers already on status may also face compliance exposure if actual wages fall below the certified amount during employment.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders in a specific U.S. city?
The OFLC Wage Search tool allows you to look up the current DOL prevailing wage by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 51-6042 and the metro that matches your worksite to see all four wage levels. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in specific cities, giving you a practical starting point before you negotiate or evaluate an offer.
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