Lowest-paying jobs in Minneapolis
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but financial inequality prevails within its borders. That divide is growing, especially between the poorest and richest U.S. residents.
The middle class is shrinking. In 2021, just half of adults lived in a middle-income household, a huge drop from 61% in the 70s. This dip meant some middle-class adults broke into the high-income bracket. At the same time, the share of lower-income residents is growing: 29% of adults lived in low-income households in 2021, compared to 25% in 1971.
Wages over this period grew at all income levels, but the rich got significantly higher bumps. Pew Charitable Trusts found that high incomes grew 69% over the past 50 years, while low incomes grew just 45%. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and further exposed these harsh financial gaps.
The difference in pay for the highest- and lowest-paying jobs in the U.S. last year was over eightfold: from about $28,000 for entertainment attendants to over $251,000 for physicians. Nationally, most of the lowest-paying jobs are in the leisure and accommodation fields: think folks who work in food establishments, at hotels, at recreational facilities like pools and amusement parks, and other service jobs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Minneapolis. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
#50. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 2,680 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 3,650 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 6,160 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 2,750 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 360 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 5,440 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.56
- Total employment: 190 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 2,460 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 490 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Artists and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 240 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Sales and related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 1,400 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 240 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Psychiatric aides
- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: Not available
#37. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 1,690 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 540 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $33,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 1,650 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 470 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 10,820 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $32,870
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: Not available
#30. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 44,590 people (23.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Building cleaning workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,700
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $32,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.65
- Total employment: 2,720 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 380 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $32,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.53
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 760 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 610 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 75,380 people (40.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 5,330 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 910 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 6,710 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Passenger attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: Not available
#18. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 36,210 people (19.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 200 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 200 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 4,170 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 5,080 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 33,570 people (17.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 1,740 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,060 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 4,710 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Cooks, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Cooks, fast food (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 4,200 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 7,380 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Woodworkers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 170 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 4,210 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $26,530
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 10,650 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Taxi drivers
- Median annual wage: $26,300
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $23,770
- Median hourly wage: $11.43
- Total employment: 25,190 people (13.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
