Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $36,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Waterloo
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 Waterloo. 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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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $36,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $36,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 200 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 330 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 430 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 120 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 200 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 290 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 780 people (9.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 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: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 1,250 people (14.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $34,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $34,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,440
- Median hourly wage: $16.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 570 people (6.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 130 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $33,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 200 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $31,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 550 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 270 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 120 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 2,150 people (25.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 120 people (1.43 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: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 150 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 2,560 people (29.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 120 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 280 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 310 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 2,080 people (24.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 180 people (2.12 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: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 200 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 290 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#8. Childcare workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 410 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,180 people (13.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,770
- Median hourly wage: $12.39
- Total employment: 150 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $25,470
- Median hourly wage: $12.25
- Total employment: 1,190 people (13.88 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: $25,060
- Median hourly wage: $12.05
- Total employment: 280 people (3.29 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: $24,310
- Median hourly wage: $11.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $22,610
- Median hourly wage: $10.87
- Total employment: 420 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $22,460
- Median hourly wage: $10.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,000
- Median hourly wage: $10.58
- Total employment: 490 people (5.78 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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