Dragon Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $32,810
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 80 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Auburn
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 Auburn. 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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zhu difeng // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 70 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 180 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 180 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Undrey // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 260 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
giocalde // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Printing press operators
- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 350 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 630 people (8.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $30,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 130 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 150 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 270 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 120 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $30,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 640 people (8.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $29,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 130 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 90 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 830 people (11.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 2,170 people (30.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 210 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 970 people (13.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 290 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 380 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 590 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 230 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 2,040 people (28.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 300 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 200 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $25,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.38
- Total employment: 300 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $25,310
- Median hourly wage: $12.17
- Total employment: 250 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $23,890
- Median hourly wage: $11.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $23,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,840
- Median hourly wage: $11.46
- Total employment: 1,200 people (16.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,820
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 2,130 people (29.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $23,730
- Median hourly wage: $11.41
- Total employment: 220 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,220
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 710 people (9.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,180
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 190 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $22,710
- Median hourly wage: $10.92
- Total employment: 200 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,090
- Median hourly wage: $10.62
- Total employment: 1,370 people (19.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $21,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,310
- Median hourly wage: $10.25
- Total employment: 340 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $20,850
- Median hourly wage: $10.03
- Total employment: 220 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $20,710
- Median hourly wage: $9.96
- Total employment: 280 people (3.86 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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