The 50 Lowest-Paying Jobs in New York City
Stacker collected information on the lowest-paying jobs in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2020. Job descriptions are from O*NET.
In New York, the annual mean wage is $71,050 or 26.2 percent higher than national mean of $56,310, while the lowest-paying occupation makes $25,250. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
50. Bakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $35,020
- #279 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,930
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,060
- Employment: 168,890
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($21,310)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($21,560)
--- St. George, UT ($22,110)
- Job description: Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods.
49. Automotive glass installers and repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,940
- #16 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,660
- Employment: 18,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($29,900)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($30,040)
--- Prescott, AZ ($30,060)
- Job description: Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.
48. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,870
- #155 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,390
- Employment: 95,600
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($18,650)
--- Appleton, WI ($18,760)
--- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC ($18,930)
- Job description: Assist patrons at entertainment events by performing duties, such as collecting admission tickets and passes from patrons, assisting in finding seats, searching for lost articles, and helping patrons locate such facilities as restrooms and telephones.
47. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,770
- #197 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,140
- Employment: 293,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Rocky Mount, NC ($19,550)
--- Shreveport-Bossier City, LA ($20,610)
--- Las Cruces, NM ($21,540)
- Job description: Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural specialties, and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops; applying pesticides; or cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, and loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.
46. Engine and other machine assemblers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,710
- #4 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,190
- Employment: 41,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($32,490)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($32,820)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($33,390)
- Job description: Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
45. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,590
- #236 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,980
- Employment: 98,810
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Johnstown, PA ($19,580)
--- Tyler, TX ($20,460)
--- Cleveland, TN ($20,690)
- Job description: Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.
43 (tie). Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,350
- #53 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,320
- Employment: 11,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($20,510)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($21,040)
--- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ ($21,080)
- Job description: Provide personal items to patrons or customers in locker rooms, dressing rooms, or coatrooms.
43 (tie). Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,350
- #42 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,890
- Employment: 12,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ($18,940)
--- El Paso, TX ($24,480)
--- Cleveland, TN ($24,650)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
41 (tie). Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,280
- #103 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,800
- Employment: 147,760
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($20,270)
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($20,500)
--- New Bern, NC ($21,670)
- Job description: Use hands or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
41 (tie). Machine feeders and offbearers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,280
- #81 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,470
- Employment: 64,240
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- El Paso, TX ($22,090)
--- Greensboro-High Point, NC ($23,410)
--- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX ($23,450)
- Job description: Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
40. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,220
- #87 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,060
- Employment: 36,820
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Goldsboro, NC ($20,690)
--- Lynchburg, VA ($22,130)
--- Tulsa, OK ($22,450)
- Job description: Attend to live farm, ranch, open range or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, rabbits, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, milking, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep and collect eggs in hatcheries.
39. Helpers--production workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,200
- #205 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,000
- Employment: 239,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($21,100)
--- Topeka, KS ($21,280)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($21,360)
- Job description: Help production workers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
38. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,080
- #354 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 29,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,300
- Employment: 374,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Monroe, LA ($18,090)
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($18,100)
--- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ($18,240)
- Job description: Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
37. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $34,020
- #29 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,600
- Employment: 14,060
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($24,890)
--- Rockford, IL ($27,080)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($27,820)
- Job description: Operate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove impurities.
36. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,940
- #36 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,700
- Employment: 14,120
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Beckley, WV ($21,610)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($22,080)
--- Florence, SC ($22,100)
- Job description: Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.
35. Sewers, hand
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- #9 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- Employment: 3,410
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($26,660)
--- Ogden-Clearfield, UT ($26,930)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($29,510)
- Job description: Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.
34. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,670
- #69 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,960
- Employment: 155,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Michigan City-La Porte, IN ($23,310)
--- El Paso, TX ($25,750)
--- Boise City, ID ($26,360)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
33. Cutters and trimmers, hand
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,540
- #21 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,190
- Employment: 7,980
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($24,110)
--- Tulsa, OK ($25,530)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($25,660)
- Job description: Use hand tools or hand-held power tools to cut and trim a variety of manufactured items, such as carpet, fabric, stone, glass, or rubber.
32. Food servers, nonrestaurant
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,500
- #324 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,460
- Employment: 254,650
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Decatur, AL ($18,460)
--- Enid, OK ($18,780)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($18,960)
- Job description: Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
31. Passenger attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,350
- #26 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,410
- Employment: 22,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($19,610)
--- Shreveport-Bossier City, LA ($19,660)
--- Savannah, GA ($22,210)
- Job description: Provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal. Perform duties such as explaining the use of safety equipment, serving meals or beverages, or answering questions related to travel.
30. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $33,260
- #6 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,280
- Employment: 12,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA ($31,780)
--- El Paso, TX ($31,820)
--- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY ($32,450)
- Job description: Wind wire coils used in electrical components, such as resistors and transformers, and in electrical equipment and instruments, such as field cores, bobbins, armature cores, electrical motors, generators, and control equipment.
29. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,860
- #116 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- Employment: 370,910
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Hammond, LA ($22,420)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($22,850)
--- El Paso, TX ($23,120)
- Job description: Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
28. Stockers and order fillers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,580
- #310 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 114,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- Employment: 2,210,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($23,990)
--- Monroe, LA ($24,240)
--- Florence, SC ($24,420)
- Job description: Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.
27. Sewing machine operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,480
- #173 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,420
- Employment: 116,520
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- El Paso, TX ($18,940)
--- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ($21,950)
--- Wichita Falls, TX ($22,070)
- Job description: Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
26. Slaughterers and meat packers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,370
- #36 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,210
- Employment: 77,980
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($24,210)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($24,450)
--- Tulsa, OK ($24,700)
- Job description: Perform nonroutine or precision functions involving the preparation of large portions of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats. Work typically occurs in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments.
25. Food batchmakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,330
- #87 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,970
- Employment: 153,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- San Angelo, TX ($18,770)
--- Hammond, LA ($20,450)
--- Tyler, TX ($21,070)
- Job description: Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
24. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,120
- #351 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $24,800
- Employment: 316,700
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Decatur, AL ($17,940)
--- Gadsden, AL ($18,150)
--- New Bern, NC ($18,190)
- Job description: Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
23. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $32,080
- #193 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,050
- Employment: 113,150
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Montgomery, AL ($17,440)
--- Athens-Clarke County, GA ($17,790)
--- Sheboygan, WI ($17,940)
- Job description: Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.
22. Animal caretakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,980
- #321 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,940
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,380
- Employment: 193,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Morristown, TN ($18,810)
--- Greenville, NC ($20,320)
--- Twin Falls, ID ($20,580)
- Job description: Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.
21. Childcare workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,810
- #355 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 51,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,790
- Employment: 494,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($17,330)
--- Dothan, AL ($18,370)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($18,440)
- Job description: Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
20. Packers and packagers, hand
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,780
- #315 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 46,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Employment: 599,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Wichita Falls, TX ($18,740)
--- Casper, WY ($19,850)
--- Johnstown, PA ($19,920)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
19. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,430
- #23 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,180
- Employment: 26,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- El Paso, TX ($20,140)
--- Florence, SC ($23,290)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($24,380)
- Job description: Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
18. Pharmacy aides
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,390
- #88 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,250
- Employment: 38,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($20,300)
--- Shreveport-Bossier City, LA ($21,220)
--- Grand Island, NE ($21,360)
- Job description: Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
17. Floor sanders and finishers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,360
- #1 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,400
- Employment: 5,100
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($31,360)
--- Asheville, NC ($38,160)
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($38,900)
- Job description: Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
16. Parking attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,280
- #166 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,910
- Employment: 123,790
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Lake Charles, LA ($19,840)
--- Huntsville, AL ($19,910)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($20,000)
- Job description: Park vehicles or issue tickets for customers in a parking lot or garage. May park or tend vehicles in environments such as a car dealership or rental car facility. May collect fee.
15. Physical therapist aides
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,240
- #118 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,110
- Employment: 45,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($19,710)
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($20,200)
--- Montgomery, AL ($20,390)
- Job description: Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
14. Food preparation workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- #344 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 61,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,820
- Employment: 793,590
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Hammond, LA ($18,290)
--- Morristown, TN ($18,550)
--- Monroe, LA ($19,010)
- Job description: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
13. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,100
- #13 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,370
- Employment: 18,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($22,960)
--- Asheville, NC ($23,670)
--- Winston-Salem, NC ($26,450)
- Job description: Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
12. Cooks, short order
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $31,030
- #206 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,030
- Employment: 123,350
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Laredo, TX ($18,660)
--- Gainesville, GA ($18,740)
--- Mobile, AL ($18,820)
- Job description: Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
11. Shoe machine operators and tenders
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $30,780
- #1 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,430
- Employment: 4,080
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with lowest average pay: data not available
- Job description: Operate or tend a variety of machines to join, decorate, reinforce, or finish shoes and shoe parts.
10. Dishwashers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- #366 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,600
- Employment: 395,660
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL ($17,490)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($18,400)
--- Muncie, IN ($18,550)
- Job description: Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.
9. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $30,250
- #317 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,600
- Employment: 179,890
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Hattiesburg, MS ($18,060)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($18,580)
--- Rome, GA ($19,050)
- Job description: Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.
8. Amusement and recreation attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $29,820
- #295 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,610
- Employment: 248,190
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($18,040)
--- Lynchburg, VA ($18,600)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($18,650)
- Job description: Perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. May schedule use of recreation facilities, maintain and provide equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, or operate amusement concessions and rides.
7. Cashiers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- #347 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 171,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,710
- Employment: 3,333,100
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Hattiesburg, MS ($19,530)
--- Monroe, LA ($19,780)
--- Albany, GA ($20,320)
- Job description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
6. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $29,480
- #97 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,050
- Employment: 31,980
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Raleigh, NC ($18,320)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($19,670)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($19,930)
- Job description: Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
5. Fast food and counter workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $29,190
- #348 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 145,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $24,540
- Employment: 3,450,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($18,690)
--- Mobile, AL ($18,750)
--- Montgomery, AL ($18,780)
- Job description: Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.
4. Manicurists and pedicurists
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $28,570
- #69 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- Employment: 73,010
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- York-Hanover, PA ($18,440)
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($18,880)
--- Akron, OH ($19,540)
- Job description: Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
3. Cooks, fast food
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $27,490
- #250 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $24,300
- Employment: 544,420
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Altoona, PA ($17,660)
--- Johnson City, TN ($17,700)
--- Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL ($17,900)
- Job description: Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
2. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $25,790
- #71 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,150
- Employment: 112,750
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Valdosta, GA ($21,570)
--- Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA ($21,740)
--- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($21,950)
- Job description: Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.
1. Shampooers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $25,250
- #15 lowest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $24,320
- Employment: 8,310
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with lowest average pay:
--- Reading, PA ($18,650)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($19,650)
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($19,650)
- Job description: Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
