Lowest-paying jobs in Dubuque

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 Dubuque. 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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1 / 50

#50. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $39,360
- Median hourly wage: $18.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $39,310
- Median hourly wage: $18.90
- Total employment: 450 people (7.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Pharmacy technicians

- Median annual wage: $39,300
- Median hourly wage: $18.89
- Total employment: 230 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#46. Self-enrichment teachers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $38,980
- Median hourly wage: $18.74
- Total employment: 110 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $38,980
- Median hourly wage: $18.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $38,820
- Median hourly wage: $18.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $38,400
- Median hourly wage: $18.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $38,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.44
- Total employment: 220 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $38,320
- Median hourly wage: $18.42
- Total employment: 420 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $37,710
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 70 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $37,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Phlebotomists

- Median annual wage: $37,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $36,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 70 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 240 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Standret // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $36,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 100 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping

- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 100 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 140 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 630 people (10.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of personal service workers

- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 440 people (7.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 340 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $33,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $33,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $32,680
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $32,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $32,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.52
- Total employment: 370 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 210 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 90 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 180 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 350 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 190 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 1,250 people (21.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 1,710 people (28.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 210 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 220 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 80 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 1,360 people (23.08 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: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 110 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 130 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 710 people (12.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $27,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.02
- Total employment: 810 people (13.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $26,270
- Median hourly wage: $12.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 150 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $25,270
- Median hourly wage: $12.15
- Total employment: 120 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $23,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 400 people (6.75 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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