18 Lowest-Paid Jobs, Causing Americans to Struggle
While the average salary in the United States continues to increase, this trend doesn’t apply to every occupation. Some jobs consistently earn low-paying salaries that fall well below the national average.
Many low-paying professions include entry-level jobs that don’t require a degree, licensure, or extensive training. They include occupations in a range of industries, including food service, hospitality, childcare, and health care.
These are some of the lowest-paying jobs in the United States to avoid. We sourced the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which tracks state and national statistics for different professions.
1: Shampooer
Shampooers make the lowest annual wage of any occupation in the United States, excluding occupations that don’t work year-round or full-time. That’s according to national data from the BLS.
On average, shampooers make $29,260 per year or $14.07 per hour. They cleanse and condition customers’ hair in salons, barber shops, and spas.
2: Fast Food Worker
People working in fast food restaurants often make low salaries. Fast food workers include both the servers who work behind the counter and the cooks who prepare food.
Fast food cooks earn an average annual salary of $29,760. Counter workers can earn slightly higher wages with a yearly average salary of $30,110.
3: Cashier
Many industries employ cashiers, including gas stations, restaurants, and health retailers. Across the board, though, cashiers earn far less than the national average salary of $59,384 per year.
Cashiers make $30,710 per year or $14.77 per hour on average. Washington is the top-paying state for cashiers, where they make an average salary of $38,320 per year.
4: Restaurant Host Staff
In a restaurant, the host or hostess typically greets guests, manages reservations, and seats diners at tables. They’re among the lowest-paid staff in restaurants, according to BLS data.
Host staff make an average annual wage of $30,750. They can earn slightly higher salaries if they work in dining establishments outside restaurants, such as amusement parks and casinos.
5: Dishwasher
A dishwasher is another low-paid employee in a restaurant. Working as part of a kitchen staff, these workers clean dishes, utensils, and equipment.
On average, dishwashers make $31,650 per year or $15.22 per hour. In restaurants, the largest industry employing dishwashers, they make even less, with an average annual salary of $31,020.
6: Laundry Worker
Laundry workers use machines to clean clothes, towels, sheets, and other items. They generally earn far less than the average national salary.
This occupational group makes $31,880 per year on average. Laundry workers can earn higher salaries by working for government agencies or doctors’ offices.
7: Childcare Worker
Childcare workers care for children in different environments, including schools, businesses, and private homes. They can provide care for children of all ages, ranging from babies to school-age kids.
While childcare workers have an important role, they usually make low-paying salaries. The average childcare worker earns $32,070 per year.
8: Hotel Clerk
Hotel clerks check in guests, assign them to rooms, and process payments when they leave. These clerks can also work in motels and resorts.
On average, hotel clerks earn $32,570 per year or $15.66 per hour. Some states offer higher-paying salaries for hotel clerks, such as Hawaii, where they make $53,720 per year on average.
9: Parking Attendant
When you go to a nice restaurant or attend an upscale event, a parking attendant may offer to park your car for a fee. Parking attendants can also work at car dealerships or rental car facilities.
Parking attendants generally earn low-paying salaries. They make an average annual salary of $32,700.
10: Home Health Aide
Among all healthcare occupations, including both practitioners and support specialists, home health aides make the lowest salary, per BLS data. Home health aides assist elderly people and those living with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Home health aides earn $33,530 per year on average. That’s a lower salary than many related occupations, including nursing assistants, phlebotomists, and medical assistants.
11: Animal Caretaker
If you’ve ever taken your pet to a boarding facility, an animal caretaker may have looked after them. Animal caretakers can also provide care for animals in different environments, including animal shelters, aquariums, and zoos.
Animal caretakers usually earn low-paying salaries for looking after furry family members. They earn $33,530 per year on average.
12: School Bus Monitor
In many districts, school bus monitors help children board their buses. They may also do inspections before and after school pickup and drop-off.
Most school bus monitors earn salaries lower than the national average. They make an average annual salary of $33,970.
13: Ambulance Driver
Ambulance drivers operate ambulances to transport sick or injured patients to hospitals. This occupational group excludes emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who earn higher salaries.
On average, ambulance drivers make $34,420 per year. They can earn higher wages by working directly for hospitals and doctor’s offices.
14: Housekeeping Cleaner
A housekeeping cleaner often has many duties, such as making beds, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning bathrooms. The majority of housekeeping cleaners work in hotels, motels, and similar lodging establishments.
Housekeeping cleaners typically earn a low salary. They make $34,650 per year or $16.66 per hour on average.
15: Physical Therapist Aide
Physical therapist aides provide support to physical therapists. They’re different from physical therapist assistants because they don’t usually provide any patient care. Instead, their tasks may include cleaning treatment areas and doing administrative work.
It requires less training and education to become a physical therapist aide, so they make less than assistants. Physical therapist aides make $34,810 per year on average.
16: Taxi Driver
Taxi drivers take customers to their destinations. It’s a more common profession in some states, such as California and New York, than in others.
Taxi drivers make a mean annual wage of $35,120. The highest-paying state for taxi drivers is Texas, where they make $52,290 per year.
17: Funeral Attendant
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” This fact may give funeral attendants some job security, but it doesn’t mean they make high-paying salaries.
In fact, funeral attendants earn less than the national average salary. They make $35,200 per year on average. Their tasks include arranging caskets, displaying flowers, and directing people during funeral services.
18: Floral Designer
Floral designers use their creativity to plan, cut, and arrange flowers for bouquets. While their designs may bring joy to many, floral designers get paid low salaries for their work.
Floral designers make an average of $35,500 per year. The majority work for florists, but some floral designers work for wholesalers, lawn and garden suppliers, and other retail stores.
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