Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Kansas City
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 Kansas City. 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Kansas City
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 11,950 people (10.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Broadcast technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 330 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best public middle schools in the Kansas City metro area
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 1,460 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 4,340 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 1,590 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Kansas City
Jason Person // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 470 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $33,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 340 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $33,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 24,630 people (22.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 5,170 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Costume attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Kansas City by diners
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,560
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 2,380 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 390 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $33,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $33,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 2,170 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best restaurants for 10 cuisines in Kansas City
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.32
- Total employment: 1,310 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $31,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 2,610 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 6,070 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 8,470 people (7.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Kansas City that require a graduate degree
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 1,450 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 350 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 240 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 620 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Kansas City area by diners
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 5,170 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 780 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Religious workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 20,210 people (18.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 12,420 people (11.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Kansas City that require a graduate degree
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 24,210 people (22.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 850 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 2,610 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 2,550 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $29,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 650 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Kansas City area
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 1,180 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 21,170 people (19.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 18,000 people (16.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 620 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruwan Muhandiramge // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Kansas City
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 2,890 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 4,600 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 4,880 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $25,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Where people in Kansas City are looking to buy homes
