Rido // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $36,320
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 90 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Bloomington, Illinois
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 Bloomington. 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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DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Undrey // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $36,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 110 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 320 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DuxX // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $35,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
7 / 50#43. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 1,710 people (18.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 550 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Peakstock // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $35,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 410 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 120 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 910 people (10.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,570
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 560 people (6.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 100 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 220 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 100 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 180 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 190 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 150 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,910
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 330 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 120 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 450 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: Not available
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,300
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 380 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 430 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 1,880 people (20.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $31,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 430 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 270 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 190 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 210 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 770 people (8.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 1,880 people (20.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 170 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 2,660 people (29.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 110 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Bartenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 480 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 310 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 1,540 people (17.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Home health and personal care aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 910 people (10.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 310 people (3.44 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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