Lowest-paying jobs in Kahului

·Stacker

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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 Kahului. 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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#49. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other (tie)

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1 / 50

#49. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $46,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.26
- Total employment: 90 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Real estate sales agents (tie)

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2 / 50

#49. Real estate sales agents (tie)

- Median annual wage: $46,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.26
- Total employment: 130 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Nursing assistants

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3 / 50

#48. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $46,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.24
- Total employment: 340 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $46,250
- Median hourly wage: $22.24
- Total employment: 430 people (5.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Driver/sales workers

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5 / 50

#46. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $46,170
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Total employment: 100 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Amusement and recreation attendants

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6 / 50

#45. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $45,980
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 760 people (10.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $45,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.98
- Total employment: 110 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Counter and rental clerks

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8 / 50

#43. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,710
- Median hourly wage: $21.98
- Total employment: 380 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Office clerks, general

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9 / 50

#42. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $45,270
- Median hourly wage: $21.77
- Total employment: 1,590 people (22.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Light truck drivers

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11 / 50

#40. Light truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $45,130
- Median hourly wage: $21.70
- Total employment: 270 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education

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12 / 50

#39. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $45,080
- Median hourly wage: $21.67
- Total employment: 170 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Office and administrative support workers, all other

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $45,000
- Median hourly wage: $21.64
- Total employment: 110 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Social and human service assistants

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14 / 50

#37. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $44,940
- Median hourly wage: $21.61
- Total employment: 460 people (6.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Pharmacy technicians

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15 / 50

#36. Pharmacy technicians

- Median annual wage: $44,550
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 180 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#35. Conservation scientists

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16 / 50

#35. Conservation scientists

- Median annual wage: $44,460
- Median hourly wage: $21.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Tellers

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17 / 50

#34. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $44,080
- Median hourly wage: $21.19
- Total employment: 200 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Passenger attendants

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18 / 50

#33. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $43,610
- Median hourly wage: $20.97
- Total employment: 250 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Customer service representatives

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19 / 50

#32. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $43,540
- Median hourly wage: $20.93
- Total employment: 690 people (9.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Food preparation workers

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21 / 50

#30. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $42,830
- Median hourly wage: $20.59
- Total employment: 560 people (7.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Tutors

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22 / 50

#29. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $42,550
- Median hourly wage: $20.46
- Total employment: 120 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Community health workers

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $42,500
- Median hourly wage: $20.43
- Total employment: Not available

#27. Receptionists and information clerks

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24 / 50

#27. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $42,040
- Median hourly wage: $20.21
- Total employment: 350 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

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25 / 50

#26. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $41,940
- Median hourly wage: $20.17
- Total employment: 70 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $40,550
- Median hourly wage: $19.50
- Total employment: 1,230 people (17.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Stockers and order fillers

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27 / 50

#24. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $40,480
- Median hourly wage: $19.46
- Total employment: 1,230 people (17.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Cargo and freight agents

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28 / 50

#23. Cargo and freight agents

- Median annual wage: $39,720
- Median hourly wage: $19.10
- Total employment: 280 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Parking attendants

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29 / 50

#22. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $39,170
- Median hourly wage: $18.83
- Total employment: 190 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Baggage porters and bellhops

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31 / 50

#20. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $39,020
- Median hourly wage: $18.76
- Total employment: 210 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

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32 / 50

#19. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,860
- Median hourly wage: $18.68
- Total employment: 440 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Childcare workers

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $38,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.49
- Total employment: 200 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Animal caretakers

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34 / 50

#17. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $38,420
- Median hourly wage: $18.47
- Total employment: 70 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

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35 / 50

#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $38,190
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 300 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Helpers--production workers

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36 / 50

#15. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $38,170
- Median hourly wage: $18.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Cashiers

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37 / 50

#14. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $37,840
- Median hourly wage: $18.19
- Total employment: 1,560 people (21.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Retail salespersons

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $37,740
- Median hourly wage: $18.15
- Total employment: 2,350 people (32.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

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39 / 50

#12. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $37,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 620 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Packers and packagers, hand

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40 / 50

#11. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $37,480
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 270 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#9. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)

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41 / 50

#9. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 290 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Home health and personal care aides (tie)

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42 / 50

#9. Home health and personal care aides (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 640 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 130 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Highway maintenance workers

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44 / 50

#7. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $36,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.60
- Total employment: Not available

#5. Biological technicians

tilialucida // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Biological technicians

- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 170 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Fast food and counter workers

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47 / 50

#4. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 2,710 people (37.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Recreation workers

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48 / 50

#3. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Aircraft service attendants

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49 / 50

#2. Aircraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Travel agents

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50 / 50

#1. Travel agents

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.34 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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