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1 / 50#50. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 170 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Hammond
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 Hammond. 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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2 / 50#49. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Median annual wage: $33,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 790 people (16.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,030
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 180 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 60 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 540 people (11.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.54
- Total employment: 100 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: Not available
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (9.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. Recreation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 80 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Food processing workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 540 people (11.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 980 people (20.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 300 people (6.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 550 people (11.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 80 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 70 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapist assistants
- Median annual wage: $29,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 700 people (14.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 160 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 130 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50#27. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 230 people (4.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Bigflick // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 120 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 200 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 140 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 430 people (9.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 1,600 people (33.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $25,790
- Median hourly wage: $12.40
- Total employment: 170 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 150 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $23,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 130 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $23,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 160 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $22,820
- Median hourly wage: $10.97
- Total employment: 90 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,610
- Median hourly wage: $10.87
- Total employment: 310 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $22,370
- Median hourly wage: $10.76
- Total employment: 1,610 people (33.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,240
- Median hourly wage: $10.69
- Total employment: 1,110 people (23.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $22,220
- Median hourly wage: $10.69
- Total employment: 190 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $22,020
- Median hourly wage: $10.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $21,890
- Median hourly wage: $10.52
- Total employment: 1,050 people (22.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $21,770
- Median hourly wage: $10.47
- Total employment: 390 people (8.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $20,450
- Median hourly wage: $9.83
- Total employment: 210 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $19,930
- Median hourly wage: $9.58
- Total employment: 1,540 people (32.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $19,830
- Median hourly wage: $9.53
- Total employment: 70 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $17,310
- Median hourly wage: $8.32
- Total employment: 220 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $16,490
- Median hourly wage: $7.93
- Total employment: 1,040 people (21.96 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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