Lowest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon

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 Portland. 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.

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $39,180
- Median hourly wage: $18.84
- Total employment: 760 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Allexxandar // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Agricultural technicians

- Median annual wage: $39,150
- Median hourly wage: $18.82
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $39,030
- Median hourly wage: $18.77
- Total employment: 400 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ruwan Muhandiramge // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $38,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.70
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,850
- Median hourly wage: $18.68
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SeventyFour // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Etchers and engravers

- Median annual wage: $38,800
- Median hourly wage: $18.66
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robilad Co // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Craft artists

- Median annual wage: $38,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $38,680
- Median hourly wage: $18.59
- Total employment: 2,590 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $38,640
- Median hourly wage: $18.58
- Total employment: 240 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Proofreaders and copy markers

- Median annual wage: $38,600
- Median hourly wage: $18.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $38,500
- Median hourly wage: $18.51
- Total employment: 410 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $38,290
- Median hourly wage: $18.41
- Total employment: 2,830 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $38,230
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 5,930 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $38,160
- Median hourly wage: $18.35
- Total employment: 13,760 people (11.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $38,080
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $38,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 12,770 people (10.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $38,050
- Median hourly wage: $18.29
- Total employment: 1,060 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $37,980
- Median hourly wage: $18.26
- Total employment: 1,880 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 10,870 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $37,880
- Median hourly wage: $18.21
- Total employment: 1,630 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Costume attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,640
- Median hourly wage: $18.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $37,600
- Median hourly wage: $18.08
- Total employment: 1,890 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $37,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 2,570 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

shocky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 150 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,270
- Median hourly wage: $17.92
- Total employment: 7,720 people (6.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Religious workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: Not available

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,000
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 470 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 860 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 27,440 people (22.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $36,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 3,730 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 560 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 1,900 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $36,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 6,900 people (5.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 2,430 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $36,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 13,920 people (11.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $36,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 2,440 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 230 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 910 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $35,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 3,650 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $35,780
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 2,950 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $35,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 1,960 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 19,740 people (16.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 2,660 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 610 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 33,490 people (27.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 1,980 people (1.63 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: $32,780
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 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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