Syda Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 330 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Kalamazoo
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 Kalamazoo. 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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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $36,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 580 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $36,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 420 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.60
- Total employment: 570 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 640 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,150
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 1,050 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 450 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $36,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 190 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $35,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 1,690 people (14.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 320 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 280 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#36. Preschool teachers, except special education (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 310 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 490 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 200 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 280 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 1,620 people (13.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $34,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $34,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 280 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 180 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 2,310 people (19.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $33,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 120 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $33,030
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 120 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $32,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 2,310 people (19.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 80 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 380 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 3,230 people (26.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 180 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 410 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 440 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Virrage Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 360 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 760 people (6.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 2,120 people (17.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 90 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 300 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 180 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 3,660 people (30.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 260 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 320 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 340 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 120 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,810
- Median hourly wage: $10.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 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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