Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $43,150
- Median hourly wage: $20.75
- Total employment: 40 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Corvallis
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 Corvallis. 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.
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nullplus // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $42,720
- Median hourly wage: $20.54
- Total employment: 100 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $41,960
- Median hourly wage: $20.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Directors, religious activities and education
- Median annual wage: $41,680
- Median hourly wage: $20.04
- Total employment: 40 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,530
- Median hourly wage: $19.97
- Total employment: 140 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Motortion Films // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $40,120
- Median hourly wage: $19.29
- Total employment: Not available
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $39,050
- Median hourly wage: $18.77
- Total employment: 370 people (9.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $38,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.65
- Total employment: 140 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,470
- Median hourly wage: $18.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $38,100
- Median hourly wage: $18.32
- Total employment: 50 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 800 people (20.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $37,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.99
- Total employment: 90 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 90 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $37,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 210 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $37,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 530 people (13.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 190 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 80 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 100 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 150 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 160 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 60 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 360 people (9.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,320
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 340 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $36,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 50 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,570
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 80 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 340 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $35,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 60 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (12.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 100 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 100 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#18. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 580 people (14.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 190 people (4.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 760 people (19.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $34,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 90 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 70 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,990
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 50 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 40 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#10. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 120 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 70 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $31,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 200 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $31,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 720 people (18.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 100 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 100 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 60 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 1,500 people (38.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 490 people (12.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 110 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 70 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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