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1 / 50#50. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Grand Junction
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but financial inequality prevails within its borders. That divide is growing, especially between the poorest and richest U.S. residents.
The middle class is shrinking. In 2021, just half of adults lived in a middle-income household, a huge drop from 61% in the 70s. This dip meant some middle-class adults broke into the high-income bracket. At the same time, the share of lower-income residents is growing: 29% of adults lived in low-income households in 2021, compared to 25% in 1971.
Wages over this period grew at all income levels, but the rich got significantly higher bumps. Pew Charitable Trusts found that high incomes grew 69% over the past 50 years, while low incomes grew just 45%. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and further exposed these harsh financial gaps.
The difference in pay for the highest- and lowest-paying jobs in the U.S. last year was over eightfold: from about $28,000 for entertainment attendants to over $251,000 for physicians. Nationally, most of the lowest-paying jobs are in the leisure and accommodation fields: think folks who work in food establishments, at hotels, at recreational facilities like pools and amusement parks, and other service jobs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Grand Junction. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 280 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 720 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 190 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 90 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DuxX // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 50#43. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 120 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50#42. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 1,130 people (17.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $33,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $33,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 110 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 830 people (12.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,910
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 490 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,600
- Median hourly wage: $15.67
- Total employment: 360 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.52
- Total employment: 140 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $32,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 130 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 180 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $31,370
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 1,240 people (19.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 110 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Community health workers
- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: Not available
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24 / 50#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 100 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 650 people (10.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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28 / 50#23. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 170 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 450 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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32 / 50#19. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 190 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 80 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 2,460 people (38.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 430 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 150 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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38 / 50#13. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 360 people (5.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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39 / 50#12. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 110 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 140 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 200 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 1,530 people (23.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 220 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 130 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 120 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 2,280 people (35.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 120 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 1,050 people (16.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,450
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 230 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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50 / 50#1. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,120
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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