
Lowest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan
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 Midland, MI, 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.
#50. Construction laborers
- Annual mean salary: $41,470
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,130
- Employment: 968,760
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($65,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($64,590)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($63,820)
#49. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Annual mean salary: $40,820
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,140
- Employment: 214,220
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($62,490)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($62,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,380)
#48. Office clerks, general
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,990
- Employment: 2,578,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,740)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($48,850)
#47. Bus drivers, school
- Annual mean salary: $40,660
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,750
- Employment: 361,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($55,400)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($55,150)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($53,770)
#46. Security guards
- Annual mean salary: $40,600
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,830
- Employment: 1,057,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)
#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Annual mean salary: $40,560
- #251 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,920
- Employment: 1,416,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,230)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,870)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($56,650)
#44. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $40,510
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,510
- Employment: 347,170
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,150)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)
#43. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $40,360
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,250
- Employment: 118,670
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)
#42. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Annual mean salary: $39,950
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,080
- Employment: 1,825,980
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($54,450)
#41. Billing and posting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $39,870
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,750
- Employment: 429,080
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,850)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,960)
#40. New accounts clerks
- Annual mean salary: $38,520
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,250
- Employment: 40,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($53,440)
#39. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Annual mean salary: $38,230
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,150
- Employment: 1,040,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,140)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($50,430)
#38. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $37,320
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,000
- Employment: 179,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($49,970)
--- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ($49,680)
--- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($49,470)
#37. Counter and rental clerks
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,170
- Employment: 371,620
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,760)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($47,080)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,760)
#36. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,740
- Employment: 656,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,010)
--- Napa, CA ($52,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,300)
#35. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $35,490
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#34. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $35,290
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,530
- Employment: 163,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($51,870)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($51,490)
--- New Bern, NC ($48,430)
#33. Tellers
- Annual mean salary: $35,090
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,930
- Employment: 364,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
--- Napa, CA ($42,000)
#32. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
#31. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $34,370
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- Employment: 1,804,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
--- Ithaca, NY ($44,970)
#30. Parts salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $34,230
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,920
- Employment: 265,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($48,330)
--- Danville, IL ($48,080)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($47,620)
#29. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $33,960
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,190
- Employment: 727,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($58,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)
#28. Library assistants, clerical
- Annual mean salary: $33,920
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,490
- Employment: 78,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,500)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($49,030)
#27. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,890
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#26. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,680
- #295 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,970
- Employment: 436,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,340)
--- Napa, CA ($58,620)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($58,390)
#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Annual mean salary: $33,540
- #298 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,870
- Employment: 221,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,140)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,980)
#24. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,420
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,240
- Employment: 892,450
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)
#23. Social and human service assistants
- Annual mean salary: $33,130
- #313 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,460
- Employment: 398,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
--- Danbury, CT ($54,870)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)
#22. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $32,710
- #250 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- Employment: 2,729,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($42,590)
#21. Butchers and meat cutters
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- #246 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 145,930
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,570)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($50,510)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($48,490)
#20. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $31,750
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#19. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#18. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $30,440
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,380
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#16. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $30,320
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)
#15. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $30,080
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#14. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $30,010
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)
#13. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $29,480
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#12. Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $29,470
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 1,193,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)
#11. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $29,170
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#10. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $28,760
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#9. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $26,780
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#8. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $26,570
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
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)
#7. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $26,210
- #294 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#6. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $25,980
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $25,920
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $25,670
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#3. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $24,780
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
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)
#2. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $24,670
- #216 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#1. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $24,400
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)