Lowest-paying jobs in Vallejo
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there's a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.
Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.
Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Vallejo-Fairfield, CA, 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 2021.
#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Annual mean salary: $40,520
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,520
- Employment: 159,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,950)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($45,550)
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($44,840)
#49. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Annual mean salary: $40,410
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,630
- Employment: 271,920
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($57,040)
--- Lima, OH ($56,660)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($50,510)
#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $40,310
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
#47. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
- Annual mean salary: $40,270
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,560
- Employment: 67,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,050)
--- Rochester, MN ($47,190)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($47,060)
#46. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $39,880
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,050
- Employment: 56,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Roanoke, VA ($52,760)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($49,570)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,260)
#45. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $39,520
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,250
- Employment: 1,314,830
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,500)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,210)
#44. Directors, religious activities and education
- Annual mean salary: $39,330
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,880
- Employment: 21,000
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($87,520)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($87,180)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($77,500)
#43. Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $39,280
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 1,193,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)
#42. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Annual mean salary: $39,270
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,540
- Employment: 54,760
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,360)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($54,750)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($52,300)
#41. Rehabilitation counselors
- Annual mean salary: $39,180
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,740
- Employment: 90,310
- Entry level education requirements: Master's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($94,340)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($73,140)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($59,970)
#40. Couriers and messengers
- Annual mean salary: $38,980
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,270
- Employment: 68,310
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,430)
--- Modesto, CA ($42,550)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,220)
#38 (tie). Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $38,580
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,860
- Employment: 2,036,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)
#38 (tie). Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $38,580
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- Employment: 202,860
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
--- Pittsfield, MA ($43,910)
--- Reno, NV ($41,940)
#37. Tire repairers and changers
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,520
- Employment: 93,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($44,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,370)
#36. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $38,370
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,340
- Employment: 485,330
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)
#35. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $38,320
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- Employment: 2,729,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($42,590)
#34. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Annual mean salary: $38,120
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,990
- Employment: 40,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,820)
--- Boulder, CO ($51,470)
--- Prescott, AZ ($47,200)
#33. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $38,100
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,970
- Employment: 477,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bismarck, ND ($48,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,390)
--- Fargo, ND-MN ($46,360)
#32. Agricultural equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $37,980
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,280
- Employment: 26,180
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dubuque, IA ($45,450)
--- Wichita, KS ($45,340)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($45,240)
#31. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $37,950
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,570
- Employment: 175,660
- Entry level education requirements: not available
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
--- Napa, CA ($42,730)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)
#30. Data entry keyers
- Annual mean salary: $37,690
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,940
- Employment: 147,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($46,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,530)
#29. Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $37,390
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,300
- Employment: 181,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,850)
--- Chattanooga, TN-GA ($41,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,160)
#28. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $37,330
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- Employment: 1,804,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
--- Ithaca, NY ($44,970)
#27. Floral designers
- Annual mean salary: $37,110
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,100
- Employment: 36,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($44,600)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,120)
#26. Security guards
- Annual mean salary: $36,870
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,830
- Employment: 1,057,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)
#25. Telemarketers
- Annual mean salary: $36,760
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- Employment: 115,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,120)
--- New Haven, CT ($48,680)
#24. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $36,570
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,020
- Employment: 2,451,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)
#23. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $36,100
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,920
- Employment: 3,693,490
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)
#22. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $35,850
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,780
- Employment: 98,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ames, IA ($44,000)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,920)
#21. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $35,690
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,810
- Employment: 783,350
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)
#20. Helpers--carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $35,660
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,340
- Employment: 27,540
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($47,550)
--- Altoona, PA ($47,110)
#19. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,680
- Employment: 438,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
--- Napa, CA ($36,850)
#18. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $34,770
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,020
- Employment: 264,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)
#17. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $34,760
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- Employment: 585,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
--- Rome, GA ($38,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)
#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Annual mean salary: $34,700
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,990
- Employment: 285,980
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($53,630)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($53,470)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($52,630)
#15. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $34,640
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,550
- Employment: 351,960
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)
#14. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $34,600
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,960
- Employment: 111,480
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)
#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Annual mean salary: $34,520
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,320
- Employment: 114,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($43,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,930)
#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $34,170
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,110
- Employment: 262,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,800)
--- Anchorage, AK ($36,020)
#11. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,810
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,830
- Employment: 157,400
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)
#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $33,700
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,690
- Employment: 336,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($38,490)
--- Ithaca, NY ($38,170)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,910)
#9. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,510
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,520
- Employment: 225,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
--- Salinas, CA ($37,420)
#8. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Annual mean salary: $33,240
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,480
- Employment: 120,540
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($45,320)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($42,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($40,030)
#7. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $33,200
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,780
- Employment: 3,335,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)
#6. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Annual mean salary: $33,030
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,440
- Employment: 277,200
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,490)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,560)
--- Ithaca, NY ($39,570)
#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,820
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,060
- Employment: 3,095,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)
#4. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $32,680
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,350
- Employment: 377,040
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)
#2 (tie). Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $32,640
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,000
- Employment: 324,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,060)
--- Madera, CA ($36,490)
#2 (tie). Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $32,640
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,490
- Employment: 768,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)
#1. Taxi drivers
- Annual mean salary: $31,840
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,050
- Employment: 13,950
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($35,820)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($34,830)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($33,650)