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1 / 50#50. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $42,450
- Median hourly wage: $20.41
- Total employment: 60 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Midland, Michigan
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 Midland. 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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2 / 50#49. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $42,250
- Median hourly wage: $20.31
- Total employment: 120 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $42,130
- Median hourly wage: $20.25
- Total employment: 120 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $41,830
- Median hourly wage: $20.11
- Total employment: 140 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
AlesiaKan // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Health education specialists
- Median annual wage: $41,350
- Median hourly wage: $19.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $40,760
- Median hourly wage: $19.59
- Total employment: 100 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $40,630
- Median hourly wage: $19.53
- Total employment: 40 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $40,110
- Median hourly wage: $19.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $39,930
- Median hourly wage: $19.20
- Total employment: 110 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $39,330
- Median hourly wage: $18.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $39,250
- Median hourly wage: $18.87
- Total employment: 370 people (9.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Freedomz // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,930
- Median hourly wage: $18.72
- Total employment: 80 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Milkovasa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Medical assistants
- Median annual wage: $38,240
- Median hourly wage: $18.39
- Total employment: 260 people (6.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $38,220
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 570 people (14.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $37,990
- Median hourly wage: $18.26
- Total employment: 90 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,910
- Median hourly wage: $18.23
- Total employment: 90 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $37,660
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 40 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $37,590
- Median hourly wage: $18.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 260 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $37,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 450 people (11.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $36,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 310 people (8.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 200 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $36,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 2,510 people (66.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 460 people (12.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 140 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 240 people (6.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 260 people (6.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 120 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 300 people (7.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 40 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $32,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $32,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 570 people (14.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $32,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.46
- Total employment: 90 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,090
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 870 people (22.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 90 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (12.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 710 people (18.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 60 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 120 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 1,210 people (32.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 70 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 100 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 90 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 120 people (3.11 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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