Lowest-paying jobs in Shreveport

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 Shreveport. 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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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#48. Substitute teachers, short-term (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Goldsithney // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#48. Psychiatric technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 130 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor_Koptilin // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#46. Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 130 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 1,340 people (8.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 480 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Gambling service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 210 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 360 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 4,810 people (30.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

grivet // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Lucky Business // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

shocky // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 310 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 410 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

KarepaStock // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Grounds maintenance workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $26,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: Not available

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LightField Studios // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $26,750
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 270 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $26,670
- Median hourly wage: $12.82
- Total employment: 330 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $26,570
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 220 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $26,370
- Median hourly wage: $12.68
- Total employment: 380 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Orderlies

- Median annual wage: $26,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 170 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $25,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.41
- Total employment: 450 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $25,380
- Median hourly wage: $12.20
- Total employment: 1,220 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 460 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $23,160
- Median hourly wage: $11.14
- Total employment: 3,010 people (18.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $23,050
- Median hourly wage: $11.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $23,000
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 4,290 people (26.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $22,870
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 360 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $22,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.89
- Total employment: 3,020 people (18.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $22,550
- Median hourly wage: $10.84
- Total employment: 260 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)

- Median annual wage: $22,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,400 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food preparation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $22,290
- Median hourly wage: $10.72
- Total employment: 3,290 people (20.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $22,020
- Median hourly wage: $10.59
- Total employment: 850 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $21,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.48
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $21,300
- Median hourly wage: $10.24
- Total employment: 250 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $21,130
- Median hourly wage: $10.16
- Total employment: 2,970 people (18.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $20,610
- Median hourly wage: $9.91
- Total employment: 480 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $20,450
- Median hourly wage: $9.83
- Total employment: 310 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $19,190
- Median hourly wage: $9.23
- Total employment: 300 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $17,380
- Median hourly wage: $8.36
- Total employment: 2,730 people (17.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $16,660
- Median hourly wage: $8.01
- Total employment: 620 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $16,560
- Median hourly wage: $7.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

create jobs 51 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $16,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nick_Nick // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#1. Gambling and sports book writers and runners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $15,080
- Median hourly wage: $7.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Gambling dealers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $15,080
- Median hourly wage: $7.25
- Total employment: 500 people (3.1 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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