Lowest-paying jobs in America

What the average worker in each job earned in a year, lowest first, from the government survey of employers.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 1 May 2025 · mean annual wage (USD)

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national estimates — mean annual wage by detailed SOC occupation, lowest first (830 detailed rows; the 69 titles ending 'All Other' and 4 hourly-only rows with no annual mean dropped; ties by total employment, ours; excludes self-employed)

Every round of Rank 100 drops a list like this one and asks each player for one entry on it. Get as close to #100 on the list as you can, without going over. #94 is Crossing guard — nobody at your table is saying Crossing guard.

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The full top 100

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Rank	Entry	mean annual wage (USD)
#1	Shampooer	31,980
#2	Fast food worker	32,150
#3	Fast food cook	32,390
#4	Amusement and recreation attendant	32,640
#5	Restaurant host or hostess	32,690
#6	Usher	33,080
#7	Cashier	33,180
#8	Busser	34,230
#9	Dishwasher	34,310
#10	Lifeguard	34,470
#11	Garment presser	34,640
#12	Laundry worker	34,920
#13	Parking attendant	34,990
#14	Childcare worker	35,030
#15	School bus monitor	35,150
#16	Food preparation worker	35,290
#17	Hotel desk clerk	35,550
#18	Home health aide	36,120
#19	Short order cook	36,120
#20	Nonrestaurant food server	36,140
#21	Ambulance driver	36,210
#22	Shoe machine operator	36,280
#23	Physical therapy aide	36,430
#24	Produce sorter	36,430
#25	Sportsbook writer	36,450
#26	Gas station attendant	36,780
#27	Vehicle cleaner	36,980
#28	Maid or housekeeper	37,080
#29	Funeral attendant	37,190
#30	Hand sewer	37,210
#31	Animal caretaker	37,300
#32	Retail salesperson	37,310
#33	Telemarketer	37,370
#34	Hand packer	37,540
#35	Sewing machine operator	37,600
#36	Farmworker	37,630
#37	Passenger attendant	37,820
#38	Teaching assistant	38,290
#39	Locker room attendant	38,460
#40	Baker	38,480
#41	Recreation worker	38,520
#42	Manicurist	38,570
#43	Bellhop	38,570
#44	Restaurant cook	38,730
#45	Janitor	38,760
#46	Institution and cafeteria cook	38,810
#47	Casino change person	39,100
#48	Shoe repairer	39,160
#49	Ranch hand	39,260
#50	Poultry and fish cutter	39,280
#51	Library assistant	39,370
#52	Receptionist	39,460
#53	Casino cage cashier	39,510
#54	Florist	39,520
#55	Textile cutting machine operator	39,530
#56	Stocker and order filler	39,540
#57	Chauffeur	39,880
#58	Waiter or waitress	40,060
#59	Textile winding machine operator	40,120
#60	Tire changer	40,170
#61	Veterinary assistant	40,340
#62	Textile dyeing machine operator	40,380
#63	Pharmacy aide	40,450
#64	Dietetic technician	40,630
#65	Orderly	40,660
#66	Textile knitting and weaving machine operator	40,720
#67	Route sales driver	40,730
#68	Bartender	40,790
#69	Courier	40,970
#70	Hand cutter and trimmer	41,050
#71	Production helper	41,120
#72	Maintenance helper	41,490
#73	Mailroom clerk	41,650
#74	Medical transcriptionist	41,710
#75	Meatpacker	41,770
#76	Freight, stock and material mover	42,260
#77	Landscaper	42,290
#78	Switchboard operator	42,300
#79	Bank teller	42,350
#80	Butcher	42,380
#81	Painter's helper	42,440
#82	Security guard	42,470
#83	Concierge	42,510
#84	Casino dealer	42,550
#85	Food cooking machine operator	42,570
#86	Nursing assistant	42,700
#87	Bicycle repairer	42,730
#88	Window dresser	42,830
#89	Preschool teacher	43,030
#90	Optical lab technician	43,190
#91	Office machine operator	43,220
#92	Data entry keyer	43,310
#93	Aircraft service attendant	43,330
#94	Crossing guard	43,350
#95	Woodworking machine operator	43,570
#96	Sawmill worker	43,580
#97	Machine feeder	43,660
#98	Forest worker	43,680
#99	Farm equipment operator	43,710
#100	Tour guide	43,720

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