Tong_stocker // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Helpers--carpenters
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Lafayette
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 Lafayette. 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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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 160 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $29,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 1,880 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 4,040 people (23.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 580 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 910 people (5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 150 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 250 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 320 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 170 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 1,540 people (8.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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shocky // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 220 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 200 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 380 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Library technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 1,200 people (6.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KarepaStock // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Grounds maintenance workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 5,360 people (30.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 260 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 310 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,420
- Median hourly wage: $12.70
- Total employment: 2,070 people (11.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $26,370
- Median hourly wage: $12.68
- Total employment: 90 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,230
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 330 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $26,120
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 300 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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goodluz // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $25,690
- Median hourly wage: $12.35
- Total employment: 240 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
APChanel // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Transportation workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,470
- Median hourly wage: $12.25
- Total employment: Not available
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $24,510
- Median hourly wage: $11.79
- Total employment: 1,030 people (5.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $23,500
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 320 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $22,980
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 320 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Virrage Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $22,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.02
- Total employment: 350 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $22,810
- Median hourly wage: $10.97
- Total employment: 4,960 people (28.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,790
- Median hourly wage: $10.96
- Total employment: 3,300 people (18.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#10. Food preparation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,360
- Median hourly wage: $10.75
- Total employment: 3,880 people (22.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,360
- Median hourly wage: $10.75
- Total employment: 430 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $21,860
- Median hourly wage: $10.51
- Total employment: 250 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $21,840
- Median hourly wage: $10.50
- Total employment: 460 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $21,780
- Median hourly wage: $10.47
- Total employment: 1,150 people (6.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $21,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,110 people (6.34 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: $21,650
- Median hourly wage: $10.41
- Total employment: 250 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $19,970
- Median hourly wage: $9.60
- Total employment: 700 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $19,890
- Median hourly wage: $9.56
- Total employment: 4,830 people (27.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $17,770
- Median hourly wage: $8.54
- Total employment: 730 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $16,470
- Median hourly wage: $7.92
- Total employment: 3,390 people (19.32 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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