Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $38,250
- Median hourly wage: $18.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Stockton
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 Stockton. 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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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,120
- Median hourly wage: $18.33
- Total employment: 750 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,080
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $38,010
- Median hourly wage: $18.27
- Total employment: 190 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Material moving workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,780
- Median hourly wage: $18.16
- Total employment: 200 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $37,630
- Median hourly wage: $18.09
- Total employment: 200 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,570
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 1,050 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,570
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 210 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $37,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.99
- Total employment: 2,900 people (10.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,320
- Median hourly wage: $17.94
- Total employment: 700 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $37,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 130 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. Childcare workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 540 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 440 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $36,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $36,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.65
- Total employment: 7,560 people (26.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Median annual wage: $36,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 1,190 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 1,330 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 320 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $36,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 1,010 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Gambling dealers
- Median annual wage: $36,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.35
- Total employment: 300 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $36,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 350 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 380 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 370 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $35,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 4,810 people (16.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $35,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 820 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 5,580 people (19.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 300 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $35,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 6,170 people (21.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $35,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 580 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 2,380 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 3,560 people (12.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 470 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 790 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $34,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 820 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 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: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 490 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 750 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 2,520 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.18
- Total employment: 440 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 11,200 people (39.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 610 people (2.15 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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