Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 1,630 people (7.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Lansing
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 Lansing. 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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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 680 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $36,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 180 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 510 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 630 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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George Rudy // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Directors, religious activities and education
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $35,890
- Median hourly wage: $17.25
- Total employment: 2,550 people (11.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 680 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 230 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 420 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Suteren // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $35,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $35,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 170 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 260 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 120 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#34. Bakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 360 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 270 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 290 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 3,100 people (14.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 350 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 4,180 people (19.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 3,330 people (15.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,600
- Median hourly wage: $15.67
- Total employment: 230 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 4,910 people (23.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 540 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 700 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: Not available
aboutsung // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 650 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,850 people (8.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#17. Teachers and instructors, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Library assistants, clerical (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 130 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 110 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krysja // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 360 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 130 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 100 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 380 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 500 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 430 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 4,110 people (19.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 810 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $29,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 430 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: Not available
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 430 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 5,580 people (26.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 550 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 470 people (2.22 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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