Lowest-paying jobs in Flint

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 Flint. 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: Most expensive homes for sale in Flint

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 1,190 people (8.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 140 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 300 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 870 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $34,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 90 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $34,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 260 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Flint 7-day weather forecast

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 600 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $34,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 2,230 people (16.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

zhu difeng // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 200 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $33,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 110 people (0.82 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: $32,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 3,170 people (23.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Flint?

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $32,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 4,420 people (33.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: Not available

DGLimages // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $32,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $32,030
- Median hourly wage: $15.40
- Total employment: 180 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Flint's 2025 housing market year in review

Suteren // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $31,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $31,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 140 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 440 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Flint by diners

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 210 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $30,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,660 people (12.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 560 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alba_alioth // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 200 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 460 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Flint

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 430 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 270 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 130 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 100 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 300 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 110 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 190 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $29,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 570 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 380 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 90 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 3,420 people (25.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 440 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 180 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Flint this year

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#4. Fast food and counter workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 5,530 people (41.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 510 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 390 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $25,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 350 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $21,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.33
- Total employment: 100 people (0.76 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.