Career profile · SOC ESC-B4517CC3

leather goods quality technician

Leather goods quality technicians perform tasks related to quality control. As such, they execute laboratory tests (finished products, used materials and components) according to the national and international standards. They analyse and interpret the results of the laboratory tests, prepare reports, advise on corrective and preventive measures. All in all, they contribute to the accomplishment of requirements and objectives with the aim of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

leather goods quality technician leather goods quality technicians perform tasks related to quality control. As such, they execute laboratory tests (finished products, used materials and components) according to the national and international standards. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include footwear finishing techniques, leather goods manufacturing processes, leather goods components, leather goods quality, leather goods materials.

AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Pay in the UK

UK: median £36,102 a year for Science, engineering and production technicians n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)

Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,401 to £46,772 a year

UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3119). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)

Pay in India (occupation group)

Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only leather goods quality technician, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.

Urban India
₹31,909 a month
Rural India
₹18,966 a month
All India
₹26,175 a month

Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report

Top skills

footwear finishing techniques leather goods manufacturing processes leather goods components leather goods quality leather goods materials apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages use communication techniques manage footwear quality systems

Knowledge you'll build

  • Mathematics
  • Production and Processing
  • Chemistry
  • English Language
  • Administrative
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Mechanical
  • Food Production

What you'd actually do

  • Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples.
  • Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release.
  • Calibrate, validate, or maintain laboratory equipment.
  • Ensure that lab cleanliness and safety standards are maintained.
  • Perform visual inspections of finished products.
  • Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures, including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms.

Tools & technology you'd use

Microsoft Excel hot Microsoft Office software hot Microsoft Outlook hot Microsoft PowerPoint hot Microsoft Word hot Adobe Acrobat hot Atlassian JIRA hot C hot Extensible markup language XML hot Hypertext markup language HTML hot JavaScript hot Microsoft Access hot

Frequently asked questions

What does leather goods quality technician do?

Leather goods quality technicians perform tasks related to quality control. As such, they execute laboratory tests (finished products, used materials and components) according to the national and international standards. They analyse and interpret the results of the laboratory tests, prepare reports, advise on corrective and preventive measures. All in all, they contribute to the accomplishment of requirements and objectives with the aim of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

What skills does leather goods quality technician need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include footwear finishing techniques, leather goods manufacturing processes, leather goods components, leather goods quality, leather goods materials, apply footwear and leather goods quality control techniques. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace leather goods quality technician?

Our AI-durability model gives leather goods quality technician a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

Take it further