Lowest-paying jobs in San Diego

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 San Diego. 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.

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $38,180
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 900 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,170
- Median hourly wage: $18.35
- Total employment: 2,980 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $38,150
- Median hourly wage: $18.34
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $38,130
- Median hourly wage: $18.33
- Total employment: 8,010 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $37,970
- Median hourly wage: $18.26
- Total employment: 3,800 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best public high schools in the San Diego metro area

Suteren // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $37,890
- Median hourly wage: $18.21
- Total employment: 550 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $37,690
- Median hourly wage: $18.12
- Total employment: 2,310 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kelvn // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 350 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Visual Intermezzo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $37,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in San Diego

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $37,270
- Median hourly wage: $17.92
- Total employment: 2,370 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $37,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 340 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

- Median annual wage: $37,210
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: Not available

GOLFX // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Desktop publishers

- Median annual wage: $37,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

grivet // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

- Median annual wage: $37,110
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 600 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in San Diego

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 22,460 people (14.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Cooks, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 310 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#32. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Dishwashers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 6,870 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Shoe and leather workers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $36,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $36,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 510 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $36,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.60
- Total employment: 1,780 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#27. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 2,690 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 31,420 people (20.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.55
- Total employment: 400 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in San Diego by diners

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $36,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.55
- Total employment: 5,160 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 3,060 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 2,250 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#21. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 3,530 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Parking attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 4,300 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $36,110
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 31,630 people (20.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.35
- Total employment: 620 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Cutters and trimmers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $35,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 40,240 people (26.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $35,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 12,450 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 1,140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 2,430 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 3,910 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nick_Nick // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Gambling and sports book writers and runners

- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 5,180 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 8,860 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $35,240
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 8,630 people (5.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Material moving workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 970 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 5,650 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Top 25 songs in San Diego on Shazam in the past week

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 24,800 people (16.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $35,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 51,760 people (33.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 3,740 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)