Lowest-Paying Occupations

U.S. occupations with the lowest national median annual wage (BLS OEWS). Excludes occupations with no reported median.

The top-ranked entry is Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners at $29,170 (8,700 employed). The full top 100 is listed below.

Ranked list of U.S. occupations from BLS and DOL data.
#	Occupation	Median Annual Wage
1	Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners	$29,170	8,700 employed
2	Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners	$29,170	8,700 employed
3	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	$29,220	425,020 employed
4	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	$29,220	425,020 employed
5	Cooks, Fast Food	$29,260	673,490 employed
6	Cooks, Fast Food	$29,260	673,490 employed
7	Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$29,390	361,680 employed
8	Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$29,390	361,680 employed
9	Shampooers	$29,530	7,360 employed
10	Shampooers	$29,530	7,360 employed
11	Fast Food and Counter Workers	$29,540	3,676,580 employed
12	Cashiers	$29,720	3,298,660 employed
13	Cashiers	$29,720	3,298,660 employed
14	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	$29,780	117,560 employed
15	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	$29,780	117,560 employed
16	Childcare Workers	$30,370	497,450 employed
17	Childcare Workers	$30,370	497,450 employed
18	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$30,380	123,560 employed
19	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$30,380	123,560 employed
20	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	$30,790	263,800 employed
21	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	$30,790	263,800 employed
22	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$31,050	185,000 employed
23	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$31,050	185,000 employed
24	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$31,180	483,390 employed
25	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$31,180	483,390 employed
26	Dishwashers	$31,200	463,940 employed
27	Animal Caretakers	$31,200	268,830 employed
28	Animal Caretakers	$31,200	268,830 employed
29	Dishwashers	$31,200	463,940 employed
30	Bartenders	$31,510	711,140 employed
31	Bartenders	$31,510	711,140 employed
32	Waiters and Waitresses	$31,940	2,237,850 employed
33	Waiters and Waitresses	$31,940	2,237,850 employed
34	Gambling Dealers	$32,240	80,570 employed
35	Gambling Dealers	$32,240	80,570 employed
36	Sewers, Hand	$32,240	3,390 employed
37	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials	$32,240	28,700 employed
38	Sewers, Hand	$32,240	3,390 employed
39	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials	$32,240	28,700 employed
40	Food Preparation Workers	$32,420	879,610 employed
41	Food Preparation Workers	$32,420	879,610 employed
42	Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians	$32,580	11,520 employed
43	Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians	$32,580	11,520 employed
44	Gambling Service Workers, All Other	$32,710	13,300 employed
45	Gambling Service Workers, All Other	$32,710	13,300 employed
46	Parking Attendants	$32,840	118,130 employed
47	Parking Attendants	$32,840	118,130 employed
48	Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	$33,110	267,840 employed
49	Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	$33,110	267,840 employed
50	School Bus Monitors	$33,130	72,320 employed
51	School Bus Monitors	$33,130	72,320 employed
52	Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers	$33,230	20,560 employed
53	Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers	$33,230	20,560 employed
54	Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other	$33,280	7,320 employed
55	Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other	$33,280	7,320 employed
56	Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants	$33,450	14,720 employed
57	Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants	$33,450	14,720 employed
58	Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$33,450	836,230 employed
59	Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$33,450	836,230 employed
60	Physical Therapist Aides	$33,520	42,390 employed
61	Physical Therapist Aides	$33,520	42,390 employed
62	Retail Salespersons	$33,680	3,684,740 employed
63	Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	$33,820	92,530 employed
64	Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	$33,820	92,530 employed
65	Funeral Attendants	$33,850	32,620 employed
66	Funeral Attendants	$33,850	32,620 employed
67	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other	$33,870	86,350 employed
68	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other	$33,870	86,350 employed
69	Forest and Conservation Workers	$33,940	5,750 employed
70	Forest and Conservation Workers	$33,940	5,750 employed
71	Library Assistants, Clerical	$34,020	83,680 employed
72	Library Assistants, Clerical	$34,020	83,680 employed
73	Cooks, Short Order	$34,130	126,370 employed
74	Cooks, Short Order	$34,130	126,370 employed
75	Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	$34,150	365,290 employed
76	Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	$34,150	365,290 employed
77	Manicurists and Pedicurists	$34,250	144,810 employed
78	Manicurists and Pedicurists	$34,250	144,810 employed
79	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products	$34,360	23,430 employed
80	Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products	$34,360	23,430 employed
81	Recreation Workers	$34,410	281,750 employed
82	Recreation Workers	$34,410	281,750 employed
83	Sewing Machine Operators	$34,440	116,130 employed
84	Sewing Machine Operators	$34,440	116,130 employed
85	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse	$34,470	258,730 employed
86	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse	$34,470	258,730 employed
87	Telemarketers	$34,480	81,580 employed
88	Telemarketers	$34,480	81,580 employed
89	Taxi Drivers	$34,680	17,770 employed
90	Taxi Drivers	$34,680	17,770 employed
91	Floral Designers	$34,690	43,350 employed
92	Floral Designers	$34,690	43,350 employed
93	Packers and Packagers, Hand	$34,830	645,210 employed
94	Packers and Packagers, Hand	$34,830	645,210 employed
95	Baggage Porters and Bellhops	$34,840	28,780 employed
96	Baggage Porters and Bellhops	$34,840	28,780 employed
97	Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers	$34,910	6,220 employed
98	Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers	$34,910	6,220 employed
99	Bakers	$34,950	220,230 employed
100	Bakers	$34,950	220,230 employed

Other Rankings

Highest-Paying Occupations Largest Occupations by Employment Most Dangerous Industries by Injury Rate Occupations with the Most H-1B Filings Fastest-Growing Occupations Fastest-Declining Occupations Occupations with the Most Annual Job Openings