Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.
However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.
With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.
Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.
It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Seattle. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
#50. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $44,020
- Median hourly wage: $21.16
- Total employment: 2,650 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
#49. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $43,770
- Median hourly wage: $21.04
- Total employment: 810 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $43,640
- Median hourly wage: $20.98
- Total employment: 2,700 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
#47. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $43,620
- Median hourly wage: $20.97
- Total employment: 2,590 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Blanscape // Shutterstock
#46. Conveyor operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $43,600
- Median hourly wage: $20.96
- Total employment: 340 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robilad Co // Shutterstock
#45. Craft artists
- Median annual wage: $43,380
- Median hourly wage: $20.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#44. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $42,860
- Median hourly wage: $20.61
- Total employment: 9,390 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
#43. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $42,730
- Median hourly wage: $20.55
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
#42. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $42,600
- Median hourly wage: $20.48
- Total employment: 4,200 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
#41. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $42,570
- Median hourly wage: $20.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
shocky // Shutterstock
#40. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $42,530
- Median hourly wage: $20.45
- Total employment: 1,230 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#39. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $42,500
- Median hourly wage: $20.43
- Total employment: 2,140 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
#38. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Median annual wage: $42,400
- Median hourly wage: $20.38
- Total employment: Not available
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
#37. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $42,280
- Median hourly wage: $20.33
- Total employment: 170 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SGr // Shutterstock
#36. Machine feeders and offbearers
- Median annual wage: $42,250
- Median hourly wage: $20.31
- Total employment: 340 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
#35. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $42,170
- Median hourly wage: $20.28
- Total employment: 4,430 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
#34. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $42,120
- Median hourly wage: $20.25
- Total employment: 2,720 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
#33. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $41,980
- Median hourly wage: $20.18
- Total employment: 11,930 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
#32. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $41,740
- Median hourly wage: $20.07
- Total employment: 2,150 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#31. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $41,730
- Median hourly wage: $20.06
- Total employment: 2,240 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
#30. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $41,530
- Median hourly wage: $19.97
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
#29. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $40,560
- Median hourly wage: $19.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
#28. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $40,460
- Median hourly wage: $19.45
- Total employment: 4,690 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#27. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $40,450
- Median hourly wage: $19.45
- Total employment: 5,140 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
#26. Word processors and typists
- Median annual wage: $40,360
- Median hourly wage: $19.40
- Total employment: 150 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
#25. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $40,340
- Median hourly wage: $19.40
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
#24. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $40,180
- Median hourly wage: $19.32
- Total employment: 2,220 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#23. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $40,110
- Median hourly wage: $19.28
- Total employment: 320 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruwan Muhandiramge // Shutterstock
#21. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $40,040
- Median hourly wage: $19.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#21. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials (tie)
- Median annual wage: $40,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#20. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $39,790
- Median hourly wage: $19.13
- Total employment: Not available
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $39,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.98
- Total employment: 7,150 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#18. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $39,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.97
- Total employment: 3,780 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $39,370
- Median hourly wage: $18.93
- Total employment: 30,030 people (14.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
#16. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $39,220
- Median hourly wage: $18.86
- Total employment: 150 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
#15. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,190
- Median hourly wage: $18.84
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#14. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $39,180
- Median hourly wage: $18.84
- Total employment: 48,310 people (23.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#13. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $39,140
- Median hourly wage: $18.82
- Total employment: 2,160 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
#12. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $38,830
- Median hourly wage: $18.67
- Total employment: 4,380 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
#11. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $38,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 2,860 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $38,730
- Median hourly wage: $18.62
- Total employment: 4,370 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
#9. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $38,700
- Median hourly wage: $18.60
- Total employment: 290 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
#8. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $38,640
- Median hourly wage: $18.58
- Total employment: Not available
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $38,310
- Median hourly wage: $18.42
- Total employment: 51,590 people (24.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
#6. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $38,280
- Median hourly wage: $18.41
- Total employment: 370 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
grivet // Shutterstock
#5. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Median annual wage: $37,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.92
- Total employment: 330 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $37,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 5,520 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
#3. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 510 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
#2. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: Not available
DGLimages // Shutterstock
#1. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
