Lowest-paying jobs in New Bern
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 New Bern. 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. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $31,370
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 240 people (5.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $31,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 670 people (15.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 1,180 people (26.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 160 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 50 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 500 people (11.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 220 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 60 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 50 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 120 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 210 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 110 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 480 people (10.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 1,070 people (23.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 100 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $27,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 110 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $27,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $27,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 720 people (16.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 60 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,910
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 330 people (7.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.84
- Total employment: 440 people (9.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $24,410
- Median hourly wage: $11.74
- Total employment: 850 people (19.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $24,330
- Median hourly wage: $11.70
- Total employment: 570 people (12.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $24,190
- Median hourly wage: $11.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $24,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 80 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $23,710
- Median hourly wage: $11.40
- Total employment: 340 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (7.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $23,120
- Median hourly wage: $11.11
- Total employment: 120 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.02
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $22,820
- Median hourly wage: $10.97
- Total employment: 1,470 people (32.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,790
- Median hourly wage: $10.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $22,730
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 80 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $22,700
- Median hourly wage: $10.91
- Total employment: 1,140 people (25.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $22,260
- Median hourly wage: $10.70
- Total employment: 70 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $22,250
- Median hourly wage: $10.70
- Total employment: 110 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $21,790
- Median hourly wage: $10.47
- Total employment: 130 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $21,680
- Median hourly wage: $10.42
- Total employment: 100 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,640
- Median hourly wage: $10.40
- Total employment: 140 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $21,360
- Median hourly wage: $10.27
- Total employment: 170 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $21,200
- Median hourly wage: $10.19
- Total employment: 90 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $21,070
- Median hourly wage: $10.13
- Total employment: 140 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $20,550
- Median hourly wage: $9.88
- Total employment: 160 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $20,000
- Median hourly wage: $9.61
- Total employment: 680 people (15.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $19,960
- Median hourly wage: $9.60
- Total employment: 80 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $16,570
- Median hourly wage: $7.97
- Total employment: 150 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
