Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Terre Haute
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 Terre Haute. 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.
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 150 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 190 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 340 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 250 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 200 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $33,490
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Leika production // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.91
- Total employment: 1,100 people (17.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,870
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: 340 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 90 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.52
- Total employment: 150 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,110
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 840 people (12.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $31,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 1,390 people (21.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 370 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 240 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 280 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 180 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 110 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 110 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $29,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 650 people (10.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 100 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 100 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 290 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 760 people (11.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 1,910 people (29.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 390 people (5.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 190 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 1,840 people (28.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 160 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 120 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,570
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 160 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 2,810 people (43.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.32
- Total employment: 90 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $24,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.01
- Total employment: 240 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $24,240
- Median hourly wage: $11.65
- Total employment: 240 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $23,960
- Median hourly wage: $11.52
- Total employment: 1,140 people (17.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,530
- Median hourly wage: $11.31
- Total employment: 160 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,280
- Median hourly wage: $10.23
- Total employment: 400 people (6.14 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.
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