Lowest-paying jobs in Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs, CO, 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.
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#50. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Annual mean salary: $33,760
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#49. Food batchmakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,740
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,190
- Employment: 155,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($65,310)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($56,900)
--- Binghamton, NY ($50,910)
#48. Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators
- Annual mean salary: $33,650
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,080
- Employment: 9,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Columbus, OH ($75,880)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($56,500)
--- Reno, NV ($50,090)
#47. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $33,500
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,490
- Employment: 108,440
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($60,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,940)
#46. Floral designers
- Annual mean salary: $33,470
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
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#45. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Annual mean salary: $33,330
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 82,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,540)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($55,860)
--- Bellingham, WA ($54,870)
#44. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $33,300
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,950
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)
#43. Cooks, short order
- Annual mean salary: $33,060
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 124,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,060)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,940)
#42. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,930
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)

#41. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $32,880
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,160
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)
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#40. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $32,770
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,050
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)
#39. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $32,650
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)
#38. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $32,510
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#37. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $32,490
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)
#36. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290
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)
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#35. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,200
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)

#34. Concierges
- Annual mean salary: $32,210
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,520
- Employment: 33,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($47,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,690)
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($42,870)
#33. Aircraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $32,070
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,640
- Employment: 12,170
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($52,950)
--- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN ($52,910)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($50,240)
#32. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $32,030
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)
#31. Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $31,940
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)
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#30. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Annual mean salary: $31,800
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,390
- Employment: 54,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($48,540)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,140)
#29. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Annual mean salary: $31,720
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,150
- Employment: 34,140
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,120)
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($41,660)
#28. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $31,510
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
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)

#27. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $31,460
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,500
- Employment: 243,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($46,270)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,400)

#26. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $31,400
- #269 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
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#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $31,190
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010
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)
#24. Parking attendants
- Annual mean salary: $31,160
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,210
- Employment: 91,160
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,420)
#23. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Annual mean salary: $31,120
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,040
- Employment: 20,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,160)
#21 (tie). Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $31,110
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780
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)
#21 (tie). Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $31,110
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
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)
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#20. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $31,040
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)
#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $30,960
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
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)
#18. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $30,860
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,440
- Employment: 45,160
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,370)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,740)
#17. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $30,770
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)

#16. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,510
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)
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#15. Barbers
- Annual mean salary: $30,580
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,700
- Employment: 12,910
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,020)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($48,170)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($48,120)

#14. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $30,250
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
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)
#13. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,170
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
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)
#12. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $30,110
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)
#11. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $30,080
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
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)
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#10. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $29,750
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,080
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)
#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $29,570
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040
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)
#8. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $29,450
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)

#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $29,200
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,830
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. Gambling dealers
- Annual mean salary: $28,980
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,960
- Employment: 64,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($50,000)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($45,790)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($45,250)
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#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $28,840
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
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)
#4. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $28,760
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
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)
#3. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Annual mean salary: $28,720
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,220
- Employment: 9,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,160)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,250)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($39,710)
#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Annual mean salary: $28,200
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)

#1. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $27,010
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,350
- Employment: 45,930
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($52,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($50,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,910)
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