Lowest-paying jobs in East Stroudsburg
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 East Stroudsburg. 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. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Pharmacy technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 190 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Substitute teachers, short-term (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: Not available
#47. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $32,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $31,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 140 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 100 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 290 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 710 people (13.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 110 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $30,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 1,590 people (29.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 920 people (16.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (8.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 520 people (9.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 460 people (8.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 270 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 220 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 280 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 190 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 200 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 330 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 90 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 110 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 1,310 people (23.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 100 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 1,290 people (23.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 120 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 70 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $26,460
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 2,210 people (40.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.55
- Total employment: 250 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 340 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $25,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.32
- Total employment: 1,850 people (33.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $25,420
- Median hourly wage: $12.22
- Total employment: 180 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $25,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.10
- Total employment: 150 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,090
- Median hourly wage: $12.06
- Total employment: 280 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $24,350
- Median hourly wage: $11.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $23,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 1,700 people (31.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,370
- Median hourly wage: $11.24
- Total employment: 230 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $21,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.41
- Total employment: 210 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $21,320
- Median hourly wage: $10.25
- Total employment: 230 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $21,230
- Median hourly wage: $10.21
- Total employment: 130 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,110
- Median hourly wage: $10.15
- Total employment: 430 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
