Lowest-paying jobs in Birmingham
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 Birmingham. 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. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 610 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 570 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 1,730 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $28,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 4,900 people (9.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 2,210 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 3,960 people (7.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Print binding and finishing workers
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 200 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 450 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 270 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 14,280 people (28.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Grinding and polishing workers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $27,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 1,740 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 630 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,980
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 1,710 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 5,870 people (11.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $26,780
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 130 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 130 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 650 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $26,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.51
- Total employment: 5,590 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $25,660
- Median hourly wage: $12.34
- Total employment: 500 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $25,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.04
- Total employment: 930 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $24,830
- Median hourly wage: $11.94
- Total employment: 240 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#26. Helpers, construction trades, all other
- Median annual wage: $24,700
- Median hourly wage: $11.88
- Total employment: 80 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $24,510
- Median hourly wage: $11.78
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $24,500
- Median hourly wage: $11.78
- Total employment: 840 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $24,390
- Median hourly wage: $11.73
- Total employment: 740 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $24,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.64
- Total employment: 280 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $23,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.49
- Total employment: 11,800 people (23.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $23,730
- Median hourly wage: $11.41
- Total employment: 2,100 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,510
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 4,770 people (9.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,260
- Median hourly wage: $11.18
- Total employment: 4,640 people (9.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Shampooers
- Median annual wage: $23,220
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $22,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.03
- Total employment: 5,550 people (11.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 800 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,760 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $22,120
- Median hourly wage: $10.64
- Total employment: 1,150 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,110
- Median hourly wage: $10.63
- Total employment: 8,250 people (16.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $21,920
- Median hourly wage: $10.54
- Total employment: 1,060 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $21,840
- Median hourly wage: $10.50
- Total employment: 1,170 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,600
- Median hourly wage: $10.39
- Total employment: 1,310 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $21,540
- Median hourly wage: $10.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $20,700
- Median hourly wage: $9.95
- Total employment: 180 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $20,560
- Median hourly wage: $9.88
- Total employment: 670 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $20,070
- Median hourly wage: $9.65
- Total employment: 6,680 people (13.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $19,980
- Median hourly wage: $9.61
- Total employment: 840 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $18,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $18,160
- Median hourly wage: $8.73
- Total employment: 1,700 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $17,490
- Median hourly wage: $8.41
- Total employment: 900 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
