Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 450 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in New Orleans
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 New Orleans. 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the New Orleans area by diners
Leika production // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $30,540
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 300 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 600 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 130 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 930 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in New Orleans by diners
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 11,980 people (27.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 730 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 1,740 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 640 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 950 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in New Orleans this year
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 190 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Directors, religious activities and education
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: Not available
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 6,060 people (13.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KarepaStock // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Grounds maintenance workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,300 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the New Orleans area
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,730 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 780 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 220 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 1,220 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $28,480
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 120 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for New Orleans buyers
grivet // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 240 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 890 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
shocky // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $27,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 300 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 800 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 440 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in New Orleans
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 3,430 people (7.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 1,190 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 1,640 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,710
- Median hourly wage: $12.84
- Total employment: 8,090 people (18.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in New Orleans by diners
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,690
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 10,750 people (24.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Median annual wage: $26,360
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $26,100
- Median hourly wage: $12.55
- Total employment: 530 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $25,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.33
- Total employment: 360 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $25,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 140 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in New Orleans
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $25,370
- Median hourly wage: $12.20
- Total employment: 250 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 560 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $25,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.17
- Total employment: 330 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $24,610
- Median hourly wage: $11.83
- Total employment: 1,830 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $24,150
- Median hourly wage: $11.61
- Total employment: 7,870 people (17.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in New Orleans that require a graduate degree
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $23,630
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 1,880 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,280
- Median hourly wage: $11.19
- Total employment: 1,410 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
hedgehog94 // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Shampooers
- Median annual wage: $22,350
- Median hourly wage: $10.74
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $22,280
- Median hourly wage: $10.71
- Total employment: 330 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: New Orleans' 2025 housing market year in review
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $21,700
- Median hourly wage: $10.44
- Total employment: 1,920 people (4.34 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: $21,620
- Median hourly wage: $10.39
- Total employment: 6,380 people (14.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,220
- Median hourly wage: $10.20
- Total employment: 3,520 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $18,380
- Median hourly wage: $8.84
- Total employment: 10,030 people (22.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $17,240
- Median hourly wage: $8.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in New Orleans by diners
