Lowest-paying jobs in Yuba City
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 Yuba City, 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. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $39,590
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#49. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $39,570
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,520
- Employment: 392,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)
#48. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Annual mean salary: $38,950
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#47. Rehabilitation counselors
- Annual mean salary: $38,830
- #206 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#46. Order clerks
- Annual mean salary: $38,800
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,820
- Employment: 133,850
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bismarck, ND ($51,440)
--- Trenton, NJ ($51,040)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($50,810)
#45. Parts salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $38,790
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,920
- Employment: 265,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($48,330)
--- Danville, IL ($48,080)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($47,620)
#44. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
- Annual mean salary: $38,660
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#43. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $38,620
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,560
- Employment: 43,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($59,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,630)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,450)
#42. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $38,560
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,240
- Employment: 892,450
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)
#41. Tellers
- Annual mean salary: $38,490
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,930
- Employment: 364,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
--- Napa, CA ($42,000)
#40. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Annual mean salary: $38,440
- #232 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,950
- Employment: 758,290
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($60,930)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($58,200)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($53,310)
#39. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $38,280
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
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)
#38. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $38,160
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)
#37. Butchers and meat cutters
- Annual mean salary: $37,930
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 145,930
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,570)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($50,510)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($48,490)
#35 (tie). Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $37,870
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Entry level education requirements: Associate's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
#35 (tie). Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Annual mean salary: $37,870
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#34. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $37,760
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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)
#33. Agricultural equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $36,760
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#32. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $36,610
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)
#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $36,380
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)
#30. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $35,650
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,750
- Employment: 358,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($60,150)
--- Albany, GA ($53,570)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($50,590)
#29. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $35,480
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)
#28. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170
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)
#27. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $35,030
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $34,960
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#25. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#24. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $34,530
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
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)
#23. Security guards
- Annual mean salary: $34,490
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)
#22. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $34,350
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
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)
#21. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $34,090
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- Employment: 983,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,680)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($41,290)
#20. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $33,820
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#19. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,240
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#18. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,120
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $33,040
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,580
- Employment: 723,430
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)
#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $32,720
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#15. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,600
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#14. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,540
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#13. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Annual mean salary: $32,340
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
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)
#12. Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,220
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#11. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $31,970
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#10. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $31,410
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $31,400
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- Employment: 220,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)
#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $31,350
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380
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)
#6. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Annual mean salary: $31,170
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#5. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,680
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)
#4. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $30,930
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#3. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $30,740
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)
#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $30,170
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#1. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
- Annual mean salary: $30,050
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,400
- Employment: 25,560
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($39,950)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($39,780)
--- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($38,850)