Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,550
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 710 people (5.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Evansville
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 Evansville. 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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Krysja // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 720 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
photodiem // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Median annual wage: $34,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 550 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
9 / 50#41. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 290 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $34,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,920
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 920 people (6.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $33,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 300 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $33,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 90 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $32,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 350 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $32,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 2,250 people (16.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 180 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 2,440 people (18.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 210 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 1,340 people (9.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 1,820 people (13.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 220 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 840 people (6.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 180 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 590 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 280 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 820 people (6.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 4,190 people (31.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 120 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 500 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 180 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 260 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 2,870 people (21.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 270 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 230 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 320 people (2.34 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: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 460 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 4,680 people (34.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,660
- Median hourly wage: $12.82
- Total employment: 330 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,510
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 430 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,480
- Median hourly wage: $12.73
- Total employment: 2,090 people (15.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $22,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.03
- Total employment: 160 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.45
- Total employment: 590 people (4.4 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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