Lowest-paying jobs in Tulsa
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 Tulsa, OK, 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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#49 (tie). Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $28,580
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#49 (tie). Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $28,580
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,320
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)
#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $28,380
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)
#47. Floral designers
- Annual mean salary: $28,320
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#46. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $27,980
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
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#45. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Annual mean salary: $27,880
- #309 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,990
- Employment: 285,980
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($53,630)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($53,470)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($52,630)
#44. Foundry mold and coremakers
- Annual mean salary: $27,870
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,980
- Employment: 13,610
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($50,560)
--- Muskegon, MI ($48,030)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($47,150)
#42 (tie). Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $27,430
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#42 (tie). Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $27,430
- #273 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,300
- Employment: 181,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,850)
--- Chattanooga, TN-GA ($41,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,160)
#41. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $27,400
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,220
- Employment: 55,830
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($51,700)
--- New Haven, CT ($49,600)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,400)
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#40. Slaughterers and meat packers
- Annual mean salary: $27,300
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,010
- Employment: 86,450
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($40,850)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($39,300)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($39,050)
#39. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $27,040
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,440
- Employment: 45,160
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,370)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,740)
#38. School bus monitors
- Annual mean salary: $27,030
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#37. Funeral attendants
- Annual mean salary: $27,000
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 32,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,270)
--- Trenton, NJ ($43,730)
#36. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $26,890
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
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)
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#35. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $26,850
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,950
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)
#34. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Annual mean salary: $26,620
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#33. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $26,330
- #324 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,480
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)
#32. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $26,210
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
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)
#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $26,000
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
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)
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#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $25,910
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,780
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)
#29. Telemarketers
- Annual mean salary: $25,890
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- Employment: 115,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,120)
--- New Haven, CT ($48,680)
#28. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $25,750
- #251 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,040
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)
#27. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $25,670
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,560
- Employment: 43,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($59,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,630)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,450)
#26. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Annual mean salary: $25,630
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
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#25. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $25,480
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,430
- Employment: 26,710
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madison, WI ($44,500)
--- Wausau, WI ($44,290)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($43,260)
#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $24,480
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
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)
#23. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $24,440
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,800
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)
#22. Parking attendants
- Annual mean salary: $24,390
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#21. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Annual mean salary: $24,380
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 82,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,540)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($55,860)
--- Bellingham, WA ($54,870)
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#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $24,310
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350
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)
#19. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $24,290
- #366 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
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)
#18. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Annual mean salary: $24,190
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#17. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $24,090
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)
--- Reno, NV ($57,420)
#16. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $23,910
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,870
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)
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#15. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $23,680
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
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)
#14. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $23,580
- #273 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720
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)

#13. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $23,470
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)
#12. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $23,270
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
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)
#11. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $23,130
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,370
- Employment: 42,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($45,060)
--- Jackson, MS ($42,210)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,510)
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#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $23,080
- #293 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,020
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)
#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $22,380
- #276 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
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)
#8. Cooks, short order
- Annual mean salary: $22,060
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)
#6 (tie). Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $21,740
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,160
- Employment: 21,610
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,700)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,370)
#6 (tie). Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Annual mean salary: $21,740
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Annual mean salary: $21,650
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $21,040
- #330 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,740
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)
#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $21,020
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
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)
#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $20,650
- #321 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290
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)
#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Annual mean salary: $20,030
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
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