| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Construct, decorate, or repair leather products according to specifications, using sewing machines, needles and thread, leather lacing, glue, clamps, hand tools, or rivets. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Inspect articles for defects, and remove damaged or worn parts, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Align and stitch or glue materials such as fabric, fleece, leather, or wood, to join parts. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Drill or punch holes and insert or attach metal rings, handles, and fastening hardware, such as buckles. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Dye, soak, polish, paint, stamp, stitch, stain, buff, or engrave leather or other materials to obtain desired effects, decorations, or shapes. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Repair and recondition leather products such as trunks, luggage, shoes, saddles, belts, purses, and baseball gloves. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Cut out parts, following patterns or outlines, using knives, shears, scissors, or machine presses. |
Associate Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with an Associate's Degree or Less, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Associate's Degree (or less), and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are open to associate's degree graduates and offer a practical starting point for building experience and advancing. For recent graduates or career changers seeking their first role with a two-year degree. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Associate's Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Associate's Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Associate Degree Jobs ![]()
What entry level jobs can you get with just an Associate's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Associate's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having an Associate's Degree. - 426 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Associate's Degree or less) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Description: Construct, decorate, or repair leather and leather-like products, such as luggage, shoes, and saddles. May use hand tools.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
8,700U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
7,500
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
-1,200 (-14%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
800
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Select materials and patterns, and trace patterns onto materials to be cut out. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Cut, insert, position, and secure paddings, cushioning, or linings, using stitches or glue. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Repair or replace soles, heels, and other parts of footwear, using sewing, buffing and other shoe repair machines, materials, and equipment. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Re-sew seams, and replace handles and linings of suitcases or handbags. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Attach accessories or ornamentation to decorate or protect products. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Estimate the costs of requested products or services such as custom footwear or footwear repair, and receive payment from customers. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Cement, nail, or sew soles and heels to shoes. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Dress and otherwise finish boots or shoes, as by trimming the edges of new soles and heels to the shoe shape. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Place shoes on lasts to remove soles and heels, using knives or pliers. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Clean and polish shoes. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Check the texture, color, and strength of leather to ensure that it is adequate for a particular purpose. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Stretch shoes, dampening parts and inserting and twisting parts, using an adjustable stretcher. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Make, modify, and repair orthopedic or therapeutic footwear according to doctors' prescriptions, or modify existing footwear for people with foot problems and special needs. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Shape shoe heels with a knife, and sand them on a buffing wheel for smoothness. |
| Importance: 50 (%) | Description: Attach insoles to shoe lasts, affix shoe uppers, and apply heels and outsoles. |
| Importance: 49 (%) | Description: Nail heel and toe cleats onto shoes. |
| Importance: 49 (%) | Description: Read prescriptions or specifications, and take measurements to establish the type of product to be made, using calipers, tape measures, or rules. |
| Importance: 46 (%) | Description: Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces. |
| Importance: 30 (%) | Description: Prepare inserts, heel pads, and lifts from casts of customers' feet. |
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production. | |
| Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly. | |
| Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel. | |
| Assemble garments or textile products. | |
| Attach decorative or functional accessories to products. | |
| Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices. | |
| Cut fabrics. | |
| Design templates or patterns. | |
| Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. | |
| Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials. | |
| Estimate costs of products, services, or materials. | |
| Evaluate quality of materials or products. | |
| Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains. | |
| Measure clients to ensure proper product fit. | |
| Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. | |
| Operate sewing equipment. | |
| Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products. | |
| Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces. | |
| Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production. | |
| Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements. | |
| Repair textiles or apparel. | |
| Select production input materials. | |
| Sew clothing or other articles. | |
| Trim excess material from workpieces. | |
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Assemble products or work aids. |
| Activity: Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects. |
| Activity: Create decorative objects or parts of objects. |
| Activity: Cut materials. |
| Activity: Design materials or devices. |
| Activity: Determine values or prices of goods or services. |
| Activity: Drill holes in earth or materials. |
| Activity: Evaluate production inputs or outputs. |
| Activity: Fabricate medical devices. |
| Activity: Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products. |
| Activity: Position materials or components for assembly. |
| Activity: Position tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Position workpieces or materials on equipment. |
| Activity: Prepare industrial materials for processing or use. |
| Activity: Read documents or materials to inform work processes. |
| Activity: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects. |
| Activity: Sew garments or materials. |
| Activity: Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment. |
| Activity: Take physical measurements of patients or clients. |
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
| Emerging Tech Skills |
| Spreadsheet software: |
| Microsoft Excel |
| General Software Tools |
| Accounting software: |
| Bookkeeping software Financial accounting software |
| Inventory management software: |
| Inventory tracking software |
| Point of sale POS software: |
| Sale processing software |
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 56.4 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 43.6 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 85.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Up to and including 1 month |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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