Lowest-paying jobs in Madera
The U.S. may be one of the , but financial inequality prevails within its borders. That divide , especially between the poorest and richest U.S. residents.
The middle class is shrinking. In 2021, just half of adults lived in a middle-income household, a huge drop from 61% in the 70s. This dip meant some middle-class adults broke into the high-income bracket. At the same time, the share of lower-income residents is growing: , compared to 25% in 1971.
Wages over this period grew at all income levels, but the rich got significantly higher bumps. Pew Charitable Trusts found that high incomes grew 69% over the past 50 years, while low incomes grew just 45%. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and further exposed these harsh financial gaps.
The difference in pay for the in the U.S. last year was over eightfold: from about $28,000 for entertainment attendants to over $251,000 for physicians. Nationally, most of the lowest-paying jobs are in the leisure and accommodation fields: think folks who work in food establishments, at hotels, at recreational facilities like pools and amusement parks, and other service jobs.
used data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Madera. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
#49. Industrial truck and tractor operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 310 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Butchers and meat cutters (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $36,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 70 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 200 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 230 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Cooks, restaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 290 people (5.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 560 people (11.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Agricultural equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 150 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 200 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 130 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 570 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 650 people (12.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 120 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 60 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 590 people (11.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 350 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $34,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 230 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 70 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 120 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.03
- Total employment: 150 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 100 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 50 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 660 people (12.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $32,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 80 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 200 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 170 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 120 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 7,720 people (152.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 140 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
- Median annual wage: $31,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 100 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 350 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 1,150 people (22.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 1,130 people (22.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 100 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 390 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 380 people (7.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 100 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 80 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 2,490 people (49.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
