Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $45,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.00
- Total employment: 150 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Fairbanks
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 Fairbanks. 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.
You may also like: Fairbanks 7-day weather forecast
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $45,530
- Median hourly wage: $21.89
- Total employment: 110 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $44,930
- Median hourly wage: $21.60
- Total employment: 60 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $44,860
- Median hourly wage: $21.57
- Total employment: 40 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $44,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Total employment: 90 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Fairbanks for high school graduates
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $44,700
- Median hourly wage: $21.49
- Total employment: 40 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $44,480
- Median hourly wage: $21.38
- Total employment: 170 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $44,340
- Median hourly wage: $21.32
- Total employment: 140 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $44,150
- Median hourly wage: $21.23
- Total employment: 90 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $44,080
- Median hourly wage: $21.19
- Total employment: 100 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Fairbanks area by diners
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $44,040
- Median hourly wage: $21.17
- Total employment: 330 people (9.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $43,780
- Median hourly wage: $21.05
- Total employment: 90 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $43,580
- Median hourly wage: $20.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,570
- Median hourly wage: $20.95
- Total employment: 120 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $43,420
- Median hourly wage: $20.88
- Total employment: 200 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Fairbanks metro area
worradirek // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $43,350
- Median hourly wage: $20.84
- Total employment: 110 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $42,340
- Median hourly wage: $20.36
- Total employment: 240 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $41,150
- Median hourly wage: $19.78
- Total employment: 40 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $41,080
- Median hourly wage: $19.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $40,760
- Median hourly wage: $19.60
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Fairbanks
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $40,130
- Median hourly wage: $19.29
- Total employment: 580 people (16.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $40,090
- Median hourly wage: $19.27
- Total employment: 560 people (15.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $40,060
- Median hourly wage: $19.26
- Total employment: 80 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $39,270
- Median hourly wage: $18.88
- Total employment: 110 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $39,200
- Median hourly wage: $18.85
- Total employment: 820 people (22.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Fairbanks are looking to buy homes
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $38,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 40 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $38,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Total employment: 90 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $37,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 270 people (7.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $37,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 50 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $37,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 1,060 people (29.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Fairbanks
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $36,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.71
- Total employment: 310 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 690 people (19.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.61
- Total employment: 90 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 90 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $36,320
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 50 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Fairbanks by diners
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 70 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 230 people (6.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $35,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 530 people (14.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 100 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,740
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 100 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Fairbanks
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 80 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $33,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 110 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $32,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 40 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,700
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 400 people (11.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 610 people (16.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Fairbanks
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (7.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 260 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 50 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 460 people (12.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $24,400
- Median hourly wage: $11.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.85 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.
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Fairbanks
