Lowest-paying jobs in Pueblo
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 Pueblo. 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. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 680 people (10.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 430 people (6.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 360 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (6.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 740 people (11.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 300 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 1,730 people (27.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $34,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 640 people (10.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 120 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $33,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.13
- Total employment: 100 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 340 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.79
- Total employment: 270 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 130 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 170 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 830 people (13.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 130 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $30,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 140 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $30,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 1,180 people (18.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 1,820 people (29.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 150 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 2,340 people (37.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 120 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 320 people (5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 120 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 110 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 990 people (15.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 120 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 170 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 2,010 people (32.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 170 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 1,600 people (25.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 150 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 130 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 230 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 310 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
