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1 / 50#50. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $45,530
- Median hourly wage: $21.89
- Total employment: 300 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Barnstable Town
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 Barnstable Town. 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: $45,330
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Total employment: 250 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $45,160
- Median hourly wage: $21.71
- Total employment: 330 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $45,150
- Median hourly wage: $21.71
- Total employment: 160 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $44,610
- Median hourly wage: $21.45
- Total employment: 1,300 people (13.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $44,150
- Median hourly wage: $21.23
- Total employment: 130 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $44,100
- Median hourly wage: $21.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,910
- Median hourly wage: $21.11
- Total employment: 170 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,780
- Median hourly wage: $21.05
- Total employment: 750 people (8.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $43,600
- Median hourly wage: $20.96
- Total employment: 1,310 people (14.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $42,520
- Median hourly wage: $20.44
- Total employment: 330 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $40,960
- Median hourly wage: $19.69
- Total employment: 280 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $40,570
- Median hourly wage: $19.51
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $40,320
- Median hourly wage: $19.38
- Total employment: 270 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $39,310
- Median hourly wage: $18.90
- Total employment: 2,110 people (22.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $39,300
- Median hourly wage: $18.89
- Total employment: 340 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $38,830
- Median hourly wage: $18.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $38,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.65
- Total employment: 210 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $38,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.46
- Total employment: 220 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $38,190
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 1,550 people (16.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 970 people (10.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $37,850
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 140 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $37,780
- Median hourly wage: $18.17
- Total employment: 720 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $37,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.01
- Total employment: 590 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 90 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $37,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 1,000 people (10.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $37,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 270 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: 510 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $37,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 160 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $37,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 210 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $36,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 110 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $36,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 130 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 250 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 930 people (9.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $36,150
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 230 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 510 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 3,740 people (40.04 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: $35,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 600 people (6.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $35,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 2,630 people (28.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 2,660 people (28.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 2,610 people (27.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $34,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 110 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 240 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $33,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 130 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: 110 people (1.23 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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