Lowest-paying jobs in Cleveland
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 Cleveland. 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. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 280 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 260 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 120 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Security guards (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 8,320 people (8.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 830 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 700 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Etchers and engravers
- Median annual wage: $29,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 140 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 820 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 890 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 19,910 people (20.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 2,910 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 3,320 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 440 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 1,580 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $28,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 820 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 2,120 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 1,550 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $28,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 2,180 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 4,130 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 3,730 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 810 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Models
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 270 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 17,040 people (17.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 1,520 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 1,340 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 150 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 180 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 490 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
- Median annual wage: $27,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Taxi drivers
- Median annual wage: $27,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 2,560 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,520
- Median hourly wage: $12.75
- Total employment: 20,780 people (21.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 450 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Aircraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,140
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $25,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.42
- Total employment: 130 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Shampooers
- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,590
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: 2,230 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,410
- Median hourly wage: $12.22
- Total employment: 2,310 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $25,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.10
- Total employment: 4,960 people (5.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $24,250
- Median hourly wage: $11.66
- Total employment: 4,210 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,790
- Median hourly wage: $11.44
- Total employment: 23,070 people (23.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $23,410
- Median hourly wage: $11.25
- Total employment: 360 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 12,730 people (12.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.81
- Total employment: 2,630 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,430
- Median hourly wage: $10.78
- Total employment: 1,930 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $21,610
- Median hourly wage: $10.39
- Total employment: 780 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Motorboat operators
- Median annual wage: $21,240
- Median hourly wage: $10.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
