Lowest-paying jobs in Greeley
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 Greeley. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
#50. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 170 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Tellers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 260 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 120 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 480 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 920 people (8.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 370 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Machine feeders and offbearers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Tire repairers and changers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 90 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 1,250 people (11.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 500 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 220 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 410 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: Not available
#35. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 170 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.33
- Total employment: 120 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $33,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 430 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $33,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: 490 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 120 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Agricultural workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,440
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: Not available
#28. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.03
- Total employment: 150 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $33,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.97
- Total employment: 200 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,130
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 110 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $32,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 290 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 1,280 people (11.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $32,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 220 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 120 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $31,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 870 people (8.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 2,610 people (24.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 270 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 390 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 70 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 110 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 220 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 210 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 2,090 people (19.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 200 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 3,310 people (30.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $29,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 240 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 1,350 people (12.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 380 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 260 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 490 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 120 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
