Lowest-paying jobs in Minneapolis
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, 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.
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#50. Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $35,440
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,580
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)
#49. Food batchmakers
- Annual mean salary: $35,400
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,190
- Employment: 155,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($65,310)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($56,900)
--- Binghamton, NY ($50,910)
#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $34,920
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,570
- Employment: 175,660
- Entry level education requirements: not available
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
--- Napa, CA ($42,730)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)
#47. Sewing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $34,910
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,880
- Employment: 116,220
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Appleton, WI ($43,060)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($42,270)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($40,660)
#46. Aircraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $34,870
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,640
- Employment: 12,170
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($52,950)
--- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN ($52,910)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($50,240)
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#45. School bus monitors
- Annual mean salary: $34,860
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,220
- Employment: 55,310
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($49,850)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($48,610)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,750)
#44. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $34,610
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,590
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)
#43. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $34,540
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,640
- Employment: 16,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Appleton, WI ($51,100)
--- Reading, PA ($46,430)
--- San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ($41,140)
#42. Cooks, short order
- Annual mean salary: $34,270
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 124,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,060)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,940)
#41. Bicycle repairers
- Annual mean salary: $34,150
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Employment: 14,760
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,650)
--- Boulder, CO ($40,810)
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#40. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $34,080
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 48,170
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)

#39. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,300
- Employment: 5,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($63,690)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($56,880)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($50,750)
#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $33,720
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,370
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)
#37. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $33,600
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,580
- Employment: 723,430
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)
#36. Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,320
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- Employment: 202,860
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
--- Pittsfield, MA ($43,910)
--- Reno, NV ($41,940)
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#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $33,300
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)
#34. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Annual mean salary: $33,020
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,990
- Employment: 40,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,820)
--- Boulder, CO ($51,470)
--- Prescott, AZ ($47,200)
#33. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $32,740
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- Employment: 585,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
--- Rome, GA ($38,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)
#32. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Annual mean salary: $32,440
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,150
- Employment: 34,140
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,120)
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($41,660)
#31. Floral designers
- Annual mean salary: $32,350
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,100
- Employment: 36,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($44,600)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,120)
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#30. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $32,290
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,350
- Employment: 45,930
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($52,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($50,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,910)
#29. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,260
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,260
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)
#28. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $32,240
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,520
- Employment: 225,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
--- Salinas, CA ($37,420)

#27. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $32,190
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,310
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)
#26. Parking attendants
- Annual mean salary: $32,180
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,210
- Employment: 91,160
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,420)
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#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,110
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490
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)
#24. Data entry keyers
- Annual mean salary: $32,090
- #232 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,940
- Employment: 147,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($46,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,530)
#23. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $31,700
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,970
- Employment: 477,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bismarck, ND ($48,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,390)
--- Fargo, ND-MN ($46,360)
#22. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Annual mean salary: $31,130
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 26,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,040)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($37,370)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($36,530)
#20 (tie). Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $30,590
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,160
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)
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#20 (tie). Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,590
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,560
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)
#19. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $30,580
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,130
- Employment: 17,150
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($45,770)
--- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY ($42,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,740)
#18. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $30,560
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- Employment: 220,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)
#17. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Annual mean salary: $30,250
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,480
- Employment: 120,540
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($45,320)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($42,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($40,030)
#16. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Annual mean salary: $29,520
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,110
- Employment: 7,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($37,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($35,950)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($34,330)
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#15. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $29,300
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,490
- Employment: 768,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)
#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $29,170
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,310
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)
#13. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Annual mean salary: $29,140
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,040
- Employment: 20,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,160)
#12. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Annual mean salary: $29,100
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,220
- Employment: 9,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,160)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,250)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($39,710)
#11. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $28,970
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 35,150
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)
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#10. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $28,770
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,340
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)

#9. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $28,550
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,530
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)
#8. Taxi drivers
- Annual mean salary: $28,540
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,050
- Employment: 13,950
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($35,820)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($34,830)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($33,650)

#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $28,410
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 38,360
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)
#6. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Annual mean salary: $28,360
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,320
- Employment: 114,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($43,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,930)
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#5. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
- Annual mean salary: $27,690
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,970
- Employment: 7,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($47,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($43,020)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($42,660)
#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $27,680
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,140
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)
#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Annual mean salary: $26,880
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,390
- Employment: 54,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($48,540)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,140)
#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $26,660
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,220
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)
#1. Passenger attendants
- Annual mean salary: $25,700
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,380
- Employment: 21,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($47,240)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($43,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($40,730)
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