Footwear manufacturing operative | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Footwear manufacturing operatives make shoes, boots and sports footwear for all ages.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or

Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses.
Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets.
Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts.
Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes.
Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out.
Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape.
Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers.
Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles.
Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes.
Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness.
Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment.
Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs.
Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves.
Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers.
Clean and polish shoes.
Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose.
Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules.
Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools.
Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles.
Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products.
Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue.
Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces.
Measure customers for fit, and discuss with them the type of footwear to be made, recommending details such as leather quality.
Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher.
Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes.
Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet.
Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags.

Read more about Footwear manufacturing operative

Footwear manufacturing operatives typically work around 38 to 40 hours per week.

As a Footwear manufacturing operative you will typically work between 8am and 6pm.

This occupation tends to be:

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely

Read more about Footwear manufacturing operative

* from ONETonline

Average salary
62,298 GBP *
per year

* data taken from the Office of National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Average salary for Footwear manufacturing operative

Big gender gap

64,520 GBP
52,989 GBP

Average salary for part-time Footwear manufacturing operative

Average salary for full-time Footwear manufacturing operative

Showing:

14,537 GBP
16,914 GBP
13,353 GBP

62,298 GBP
52,989 GBP
64,520 GBP

Salary over time for Footwear manufacturing operative

Salary for this role has increased over time

55,137 GBP
54,572 GBP
57,443 GBP
59,268 GBP
61,113 GBP
62,621 GBP
62,298 GBP
61,521 GBP
60,156 GBP

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Future outlook for Footwear manufacturing operatives

Very good outlook

636 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

1% yearly wage growth (on average)

Very good outlook

30% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Footwear manufacturing operative and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

56% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
22% of people in this role have a certificate of higher education or equivalent but no degree
18% of people in this role have do not have GCSEs or equivalent qualifications

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills you need in this job, like the Level 2 Certificate or Level 3 Diploma in Apparel, Footwear, Leather or Textile Production.

You'll need:

the ability to work well with your hands
the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
observation and recording skills
the ability to operate and control equipment
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Footwear manufacturing operative

Sewing

Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. Independence Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Cooperation Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

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Footwear manufacturing operative | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Future outlook for Footwear manufacturing operatives

Footwear manufacturing operative - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Footwear manufacturing operative interview

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