Lowest-paying jobs in Saginaw

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 Saginaw. 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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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 530 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 1,480 people (18.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NIKCOA // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $36,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 290 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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New Africa // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 500 people (6.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 310 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $35,840
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alba_alioth // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $35,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 690 people (8.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 240 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 90 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 110 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $33,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.13
- Total employment: 140 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $33,440
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: Not available

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 180 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $32,780
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,090
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 180 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 1,520 people (19.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 160 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food preparation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 240 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $30,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 1,500 people (18.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 240 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 440 people (5.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 150 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 1,630 people (20.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 3,430 people (43.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 750 people (9.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 130 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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aboutsung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 270 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 260 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 110 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 270 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#5. Childcare workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 260 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 1,990 people (24.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 2,160 people (27.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $27,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $25,700
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 300 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)