Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 230 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Rockford
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 Rockford. 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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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 300 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 2,190 people (15.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tire repairers and changers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 100 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 3,590 people (25.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $35,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 210 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $34,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 1,260 people (9.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 870 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 230 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 2,750 people (19.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 140 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $32,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 130 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
17 / 50#33. Automotive and watercraft service attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Driver/sales workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 500 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.46
- Total employment: 3,180 people (22.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
21 / 50#29. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 270 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 690 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $31,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 120 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $31,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 140 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 470 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $31,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 110 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 540 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 220 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 130 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 440 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 4,190 people (30.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 290 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 3,340 people (24.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,370 people (9.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 230 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 420 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 190 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 280 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Carlovis // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $29,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 430 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 150 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
45 / 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 (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 330 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Library technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Bartenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 1,060 people (7.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Gambling dealers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 1,820 people (13.08 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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