Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $35,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 1,630 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Detroit
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 Detroit. 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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Suteren // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,580
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 1,140 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 26,450 people (13.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 6,150 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
5 / 50#45. Orderlies (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 740 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Indypendenz // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 950 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 210 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 2,420 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Pereiras // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychiatric aides
- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 510 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 750 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Virrage Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 1,550 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 7,250 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 370 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 650 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 48,560 people (25.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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motodan // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Hoist and winch operators
- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 570 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 1,730 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 2,240 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 1,000 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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encierro // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $33,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 270 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 450 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 3,470 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.53
- Total employment: 38,410 people (20.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $32,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 560 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: Not available
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $32,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 3,400 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 510 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 13,440 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 960 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 870 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 600 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 2,870 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 510 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 5,340 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 6,900 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 4,950 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 36,350 people (19.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Costume attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 47,450 people (24.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 1,000 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 6,170 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 330 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 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: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 4,240 people (2.22 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: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 6,070 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,670
- Median hourly wage: $12.82
- Total employment: 1,310 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: Not available
Robilad Co // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Craft artists
- Median annual wage: $21,840
- Median hourly wage: $10.50
- Total employment: 310 people (0.16 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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