Lowest-paying jobs in Cumberland

Written by:
August 1, 2023
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Lowest-paying jobs in Cumberland

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 Cumberland. 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. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $32,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 860 people (23.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

- Median annual wage: $31,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 430 people (11.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,810
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $31,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 380 people (10.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 160 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 500 people (13.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Medical equipment preparers

- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 490 people (13.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 110 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 70 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 40 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 220 people (5.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 160 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 60 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 150 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 90 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 490 people (13.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 250 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 40 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 200 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 50 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 80 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 50 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $27,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 330 people (8.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 70 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $27,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 240 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,480
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 240 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $26,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 510 people (14.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $26,860
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 130 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $26,770
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 1,100 people (30.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $26,590
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: 150 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $26,410
- Median hourly wage: $12.70
- Total employment: 90 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $26,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 690 people (18.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $26,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 50 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 60 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Switchboard operators, including answering service (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 80 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Childcare workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Office and administrative support workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 110 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 1,100 people (30.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 100 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Fast food and counter workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 1,050 people (28.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 60 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $25,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.44
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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