Lowest-paying jobs in California, Maryland
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 California, Maryland. 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. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $39,020
- Median hourly wage: $18.76
- Total employment: 210 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $38,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.70
- Total employment: 220 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $38,600
- Median hourly wage: $18.56
- Total employment: 60 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $38,430
- Median hourly wage: $18.48
- Total employment: 340 people (7.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $38,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.47
- Total employment: 60 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $37,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $37,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 50 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $37,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 270 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 60 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $36,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 90 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 100 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $36,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.65
- Total employment: 660 people (13.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $36,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.65
- Total employment: 120 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $36,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 90 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 560 people (11.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.35
- Total employment: 100 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $36,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 380 people (8.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 220 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 60 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 550 people (11.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $34,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 90 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 90 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 330 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 60 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 170 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 110 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 120 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 110 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 370 people (7.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 280 people (5.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 150 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 160 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 1,010 people (21.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 510 people (10.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,480
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 990 people (21.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 110 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 1,170 people (24.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 90 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 50 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 120 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 220 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 160 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $26,980
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 140 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
