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The lowest paying jobs in the US

Cooks, Fast Food sit at the bottom on $30,890 a year — the worst paid of 825 occupations the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures.

The 100 worst paid of all 825 detailed occupations, by median annual wage, worst first.

Median annual wage, 2025 · US Bureau of Labor Statistics
#OccupationMedianTypical entry education
1Cooks, Fast Food$30,890No formal educational credentialno degree
2Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200No formal educational credentialno degree
3Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200No formal educational credentialno degree
4Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,150No formal educational credentialno degree
5Shampooers$32,600No formal educational credentialno degree
6Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other$32,640High school diploma or equivalentno degree
7Cashiers$32,880No formal educational credentialno degree
8Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$32,910No formal educational credentialno degree
9Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580No formal educational credentialno degree
10Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980No formal educational credentialno degree
11Gambling Dealers$34,320High school diploma or equivalentno degree
12Bartenders$34,340No formal educational credentialno degree
13Dishwashers$34,810No formal educational credentialno degree
14Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890No formal educational credentialno degree
15Childcare Workers$34,980High school diploma or equivalentno degree
16Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$34,980High school diploma or equivalentno degree
17Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$35,060No formal educational credentialno degree
18Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,070High school diploma or equivalentno degree
19School Bus Monitors$35,100High school diploma or equivalentno degree
20Parking Attendants$35,150No formal educational credentialno degree
21Waiters and Waitresses$35,230No formal educational credentialno degree
22Physical Therapist Aides$35,240High school diploma or equivalentno degree
23Food Preparation Workers$35,320No formal educational credentialno degree
24Animal Caretakers$35,360High school diploma or equivalentno degree
25Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credentialno degree
26Retail Salespersons$35,410No formal educational credentialno degree
27Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$35,450High school diploma or equivalentno degree
28Telemarketers$35,450No formal educational credentialno degree
29Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,510No formal educational credentialno degree
30Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders$35,650High school diploma or equivalentno degree
31Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660No formal educational credentialno degree
32Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$35,670No formal educational credentialno degree
33Funeral Attendants$35,680High school diploma or equivalentno degree
34Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$35,730No formal educational credentialno degree
35Manicurists and Pedicurists$35,760Postsecondary nondegree awardno degree
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,790Postsecondary nondegree awardno degree
37Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,800High school diploma or equivalentno degree
38Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830No formal educational credentialno degree
39Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credentialno degree
40Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credentialno degree
41Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$36,220No formal educational credentialno degree
42Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280No formal educational credentialno degree
43Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants$36,300High school diploma or equivalentno degree
44Gambling Service Workers, All Other$36,310High school diploma or equivalentno degree
45Sewers, Hand$36,480No formal educational credentialno degree
46Recreation Workers$36,560High school diploma or equivalentno degree
47Sewing Machine Operators$36,670No formal educational credentialno degree
48Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,670No formal educational credentialno degree
49Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780Some college, no degreeno degree
50Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840No formal educational credentialno degree
51Library Assistants, Clerical$36,910High school diploma or equivalentno degree
52Baggage Porters and Bellhops$37,080High school diploma or equivalentno degree
53Bakers$37,160No formal educational credentialno degree
54Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$37,180No formal educational credentialno degree
55Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,280High school diploma or equivalentno degree
56Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$37,290No formal educational credentialno degree
57Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330No formal educational credentialno degree
58Floral Designers$37,360High school diploma or equivalentno degree
59Cooks, Restaurant$37,390No formal educational credentialno degree
60Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,450No formal educational credentialno degree
61Gambling Cage Workers$37,580High school diploma or equivalentno degree
62Dietetic Technicians$37,640Associate's degreeno degree
63Pharmacy Aides$37,680High school diploma or equivalentno degree
64Cooks, All Other$37,690No formal educational credentialno degree
65Tire Repairers and Changers$37,710High school diploma or equivalentno degree
66Passenger Attendants$37,720High school diploma or equivalentno degree
67Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers$37,800High school diploma or equivalentno degree
68Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010High school diploma or equivalentno degree
69Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$38,020No formal educational credentialno degree
70Security Guards$38,020High school diploma or equivalentno degree
71Crossing Guards and Flaggers$38,100No formal educational credentialno degree
72Tour and Travel Guides$38,120High school diploma or equivalentno degree
73Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140Associate's degreeno degree
74Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150High school diploma or equivalentno degree
75Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,180High school diploma or equivalentno degree
76Barbers$38,210Postsecondary nondegree awardno degree
77Motion Picture Projectionists$38,270No formal educational credentialno degree
78Orderlies$38,290High school diploma or equivalentno degree
79Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$38,300No formal educational credentialno degree
80Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$38,630High school diploma or equivalentno degree
81Parts Salespersons$38,630No formal educational credentialno degree
82Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,670High school diploma or equivalentno degree
83Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,760High school diploma or equivalentno degree
84Driver/Sales Workers$38,770High school diploma or equivalentno degree
85Concierges$38,950High school diploma or equivalentno degree
86Helpers--Production Workers$39,070High school diploma or equivalentno degree
87Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$39,150No formal educational credentialno degree
88Occupational Therapy Aides$39,160High school diploma or equivalentno degree
89Couriers and Messengers$39,200High school diploma or equivalentno degree
90Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$39,280High school diploma or equivalentno degree
91Demonstrators and Product Promoters$39,320No formal educational credentialno degree
92Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390High school diploma or equivalentno degree
93Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians$39,460High school diploma or equivalentno degree
94Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,530High school diploma or equivalentno degree
95Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$39,630High school diploma or equivalentno degree
96Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,680No formal educational credentialno degree
97Agricultural Workers, All Other$39,850No formal educational credentialno degree
98Animal Trainers$39,990High school diploma or equivalentno degree
99Production Workers, All Other$40,110High school diploma or equivalentno degree
100Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,130No formal educational credentialno degree
The highest paying jobs in the USThe highest paying jobs without a degreeAll 825 occupations, ranked →

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Figures are for 2025; snapshot taken 2026-08-15. Education requirements from the same office's Employment Projections, Table 5.4. Covers all wage and salary workers, excluding the self-employed. bls.gov