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Shop assistants

How to become a Shoe Fitter

Also called: Shoe shop assistant

Measures customers' feet in shoe shops and department store shoe sections, advises on the best shoes to help prevent foot problems, and adjusts and sells shoes.

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

To become a shoe fitter, you need at least three years of practical experience in selling or making shoes at a shoe shop or manufacturer, or in foot care or medical work related to foot problems. Only after meeting this requirement can you be certified through the shoe fitter training course run by the Foot, Shoes and Health Council. The course consists of three days (25 hours) of classes and a three-month correspondence course. It covers basic knowledge of foot problems and leather shoes and practical work in foot measuring, fitting and padding. Those who pass the assessment receive the entry-level qualification. A shoe fitter is a shoe salesperson with specialist knowledge and skills. People are usually hired as sales staff at a shoe shop or department store, gain experience and then qualify. Communication skills to deal with customers and give them sound advice are important for this job. After qualifying, you are also expected to keep improving your specialist knowledge and skills through courses regularly run by the Foot, Shoes and Health Council.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Shoe Fitter?

To become a shoe fitter, you need at least three years of practical experience in selling or making shoes at a shoe shop or manufacturer, or in foot care or medical work related to foot problems. Only after meeting this requirement can you be certified through the shoe fitter training course run by the Foot, Shoes and Health Council. The course consists of three days (25 hours) of classes and a three-month correspondence course. It covers basic knowledge of foot problems and leather shoes and practical work in foot measuring, fitting and padding. Those who pass the assessment receive the entry-level qualification. A shoe fitter is a shoe salesperson with specialist knowledge and skills. People are usually hired as sales staff at a shoe shop or department store, gain experience and then qualify. Communication skills to deal with customers and give them sound advice are important for this job. After qualifying, you are also expected to keep improving your specialist knowledge and skills through courses regularly run by the Foot, Shoes and Health Council.

How much does a Shoe Fitter earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,847,600 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Shop assistants, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Shoe Fitter?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 21% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Shoe Fitter?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026