Milkovasa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Medical assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 600 people (6.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Monroe
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 Monroe. 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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nullplus // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 640 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 120 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 760 people (8.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 650 people (7.41 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: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 2,960 people (33.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 370 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 1,280 people (14.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $29,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 240 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 310 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Standret // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 160 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 2,200 people (25.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 120 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 180 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 130 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $27,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 90 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 260 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $26,910
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 2,440 people (27.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $26,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 120 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 610 people (6.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,610
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $25,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.49
- Total employment: 100 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $25,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 130 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $25,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 140 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $25,250
- Median hourly wage: $12.14
- Total employment: 1,940 people (22.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
shocky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $24,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $23,440
- Median hourly wage: $11.27
- Total employment: 300 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $22,680
- Median hourly wage: $10.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,370
- Median hourly wage: $10.75
- Total employment: 1,620 people (18.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $22,190
- Median hourly wage: $10.67
- Total employment: 2,540 people (29.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $22,180
- Median hourly wage: $10.66
- Total employment: 190 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $22,100
- Median hourly wage: $10.62
- Total employment: 490 people (5.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $21,810
- Median hourly wage: $10.49
- Total employment: 110 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $21,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.41
- Total employment: 1,770 people (20.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $21,540
- Median hourly wage: $10.36
- Total employment: 260 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $21,390
- Median hourly wage: $10.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,050
- Median hourly wage: $10.12
- Total employment: 110 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $20,600
- Median hourly wage: $9.90
- Total employment: 190 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $20,260
- Median hourly wage: $9.74
- Total employment: 140 people (1.61 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: $20,030
- Median hourly wage: $9.63
- Total employment: 4,210 people (48.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $18,890
- Median hourly wage: $9.08
- Total employment: 220 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $17,650
- Median hourly wage: $8.49
- Total employment: 180 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $15,470
- Median hourly wage: $7.44
- Total employment: 1,270 people (14.6 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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