Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $40,220
- Median hourly wage: $19.34
- Total employment: 80 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in El Centro
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 El Centro. 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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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $39,810
- Median hourly wage: $19.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $39,720
- Median hourly wage: $19.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Milkovasa // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Medical assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $39,570
- Median hourly wage: $19.03
- Total employment: 400 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Food processing workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $39,570
- Median hourly wage: $19.02
- Total employment: Not available
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Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $39,430
- Median hourly wage: $18.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
nullplus // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $39,280
- Median hourly wage: $18.89
- Total employment: 280 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $39,130
- Median hourly wage: $18.81
- Total employment: 1,310 people (20.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $39,100
- Median hourly wage: $18.80
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $38,870
- Median hourly wage: $18.69
- Total employment: 190 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $38,800
- Median hourly wage: $18.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $38,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $38,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 110 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $38,230
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 350 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Agricultural equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $38,180
- Median hourly wage: $18.35
- Total employment: 210 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $38,080
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Total employment: 60 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mirnes // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $38,000
- Median hourly wage: $18.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Noin90650 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,880
- Median hourly wage: $18.21
- Total employment: 180 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 890 people (14.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $37,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 320 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 230 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $36,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 1,670 people (26.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 1,070 people (16.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 90 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 3,300 people (52.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Parts salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 170 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 280 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 260 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,110
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 710 people (11.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 280 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $35,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.25
- Total employment: 270 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,780
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 310 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 530 people (8.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 160 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 1,860 people (29.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Material moving workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
40 / 50#10. Tax preparers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DuxX // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 280 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 2,150 people (34.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 140 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $33,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 80 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 140 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 80 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 7,220 people (114.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $33,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 520 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.93 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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