Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $45,640
- Median hourly wage: $21.94
- Total employment: 1,070 people (13.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Napa
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 Napa. 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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New Africa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $45,440
- Median hourly wage: $21.85
- Total employment: 300 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $45,320
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Total employment: 130 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $45,280
- Median hourly wage: $21.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $45,250
- Median hourly wage: $21.76
- Total employment: 120 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $44,960
- Median hourly wage: $21.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $44,730
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Total employment: 210 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $44,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
9 / 50#41. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)
- Median annual wage: $44,680
- Median hourly wage: $21.48
- Total employment: 3,680 people (46.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $44,680
- Median hourly wage: $21.48
- Total employment: 2,140 people (27.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $43,940
- Median hourly wage: $21.13
- Total employment: 1,010 people (12.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $43,560
- Median hourly wage: $20.94
- Total employment: 840 people (10.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,540
- Median hourly wage: $20.93
- Total employment: 370 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $43,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.89
- Total employment: 1,100 people (13.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $43,260
- Median hourly wage: $20.80
- Total employment: 530 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $43,040
- Median hourly wage: $20.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $42,920
- Median hourly wage: $20.64
- Total employment: 190 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $42,180
- Median hourly wage: $20.28
- Total employment: 330 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $41,340
- Median hourly wage: $19.88
- Total employment: 180 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $41,260
- Median hourly wage: $19.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $40,490
- Median hourly wage: $19.47
- Total employment: 1,060 people (13.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $40,350
- Median hourly wage: $19.40
- Total employment: 190 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $39,650
- Median hourly wage: $19.06
- Total employment: 130 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $39,220
- Median hourly wage: $18.86
- Total employment: 230 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $39,210
- Median hourly wage: $18.85
- Total employment: 360 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $39,150
- Median hourly wage: $18.82
- Total employment: 160 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $39,040
- Median hourly wage: $18.77
- Total employment: 80 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $38,930
- Median hourly wage: $18.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
29 / 50#21. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $38,770
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 120 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $38,770
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 110 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $38,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $38,640
- Median hourly wage: $18.58
- Total employment: 590 people (7.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $38,520
- Median hourly wage: $18.52
- Total employment: 100 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $38,270
- Median hourly wage: $18.40
- Total employment: 1,540 people (19.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $38,170
- Median hourly wage: $18.35
- Total employment: 250 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,920
- Median hourly wage: $18.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 150 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $37,860
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 1,510 people (19.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.17
- Total employment: 300 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $37,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.01
- Total employment: 110 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 230 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $37,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 110 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 510 people (6.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $37,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 2,290 people (29.18 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: $36,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $36,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 550 people (7.0 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: $36,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 2,560 people (32.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $36,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 830 people (10.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 270 people (3.41 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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