Lowest-paying jobs in San Jose

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 Jose. 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.

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $44,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.32
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $44,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,270 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $44,250
- Median hourly wage: $21.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $44,200
- Median hourly wage: $21.25
- Total employment: 1,890 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $44,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.21
- Total employment: 6,240 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $44,080
- Median hourly wage: $21.19
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $44,070
- Median hourly wage: $21.19
- Total employment: 390 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $44,020
- Median hourly wage: $21.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Cooks, all other

- Median annual wage: $43,890
- Median hourly wage: $21.10
- Total employment: Not available

SGr // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $43,850
- Median hourly wage: $21.08
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $43,820
- Median hourly wage: $21.07
- Total employment: 840 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $43,740
- Median hourly wage: $21.03
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $43,670
- Median hourly wage: $20.99
- Total employment: 1,180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $43,640
- Median hourly wage: $20.98
- Total employment: 2,440 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kelvn // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $43,540
- Median hourly wage: $20.94
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Motortion Films // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Personal care and service workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $43,520
- Median hourly wage: $20.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $43,520
- Median hourly wage: $20.92
- Total employment: 200 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $43,500
- Median hourly wage: $20.92
- Total employment: 560 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $43,450
- Median hourly wage: $20.89
- Total employment: 850 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#30. Print binding and finishing workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $43,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.89
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Material moving workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $43,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.88
- Total employment: 410 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $43,380
- Median hourly wage: $20.86
- Total employment: 2,020 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stoyan Yotov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers

- Median annual wage: $43,250
- Median hourly wage: $20.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $43,240
- Median hourly wage: $20.79
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $43,040
- Median hourly wage: $20.69
- Total employment: 17,420 people (15.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $43,000
- Median hourly wage: $20.67
- Total employment: 1,790 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

THINK A // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Building cleaning workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $42,980
- Median hourly wage: $20.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $42,950
- Median hourly wage: $20.65
- Total employment: 3,860 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $42,920
- Median hourly wage: $20.64
- Total employment: 16,470 people (14.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $42,660
- Median hourly wage: $20.51
- Total employment: 21,320 people (18.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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shocky // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

- Median annual wage: $42,470
- Median hourly wage: $20.42
- Total employment: 310 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $42,450
- Median hourly wage: $20.41
- Total employment: 830 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $42,310
- Median hourly wage: $20.34
- Total employment: 1,780 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $42,170
- Median hourly wage: $20.28
- Total employment: 570 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Adwo // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Painting, coating, and decorating workers

- Median annual wage: $42,000
- Median hourly wage: $20.19
- Total employment: Not available

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $41,890
- Median hourly wage: $20.14
- Total employment: 16,430 people (14.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $41,800
- Median hourly wage: $20.10
- Total employment: 4,560 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#12. Skincare specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $41,600
- Median hourly wage: $20.00
- Total employment: 690 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $41,600
- Median hourly wage: $20.00
- Total employment: 2,020 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $41,540
- Median hourly wage: $19.97
- Total employment: 160 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $41,270
- Median hourly wage: $19.84
- Total employment: 170 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $40,810
- Median hourly wage: $19.62
- Total employment: 3,440 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $40,620
- Median hourly wage: $19.53
- Total employment: 12,660 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $40,600
- Median hourly wage: $19.52
- Total employment: 3,000 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $40,000
- Median hourly wage: $19.23
- Total employment: 1,880 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $39,950
- Median hourly wage: $19.21
- Total employment: 2,160 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $39,650
- Median hourly wage: $19.06
- Total employment: 3,410 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $39,610
- Median hourly wage: $19.04
- Total employment: 4,100 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $37,500
- Median hourly wage: $18.03
- Total employment: 550 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)