Indypendenz // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $42,980
- Median hourly wage: $20.66
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Mankato
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 Mankato. 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: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Mankato
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $42,970
- Median hourly wage: $20.66
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $42,720
- Median hourly wage: $20.54
- Total employment: 740 people (13.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $41,990
- Median hourly wage: $20.19
- Total employment: 130 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $41,980
- Median hourly wage: $20.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Mankato by diners
worradirek // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $41,710
- Median hourly wage: $20.05
- Total employment: 120 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $41,290
- Median hourly wage: $19.85
- Total employment: 910 people (16.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Median annual wage: $39,360
- Median hourly wage: $18.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $39,210
- Median hourly wage: $18.85
- Total employment: 170 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $38,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Mankato?
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $38,700
- Median hourly wage: $18.60
- Total employment: 130 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $38,660
- Median hourly wage: $18.59
- Total employment: 1,010 people (18.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $38,590
- Median hourly wage: $18.55
- Total employment: 170 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $38,070
- Median hourly wage: $18.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $37,730
- Median hourly wage: $18.14
- Total employment: 260 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Mankato by diners
New Africa // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 230 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $37,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 100 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: Not available
Finist4 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $37,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $36,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Mankato
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $36,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 3,000 people (54.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 560 people (10.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 850 people (15.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 140 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 570 people (10.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Mankato metro area
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 110 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 130 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 190 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Mankato
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,570
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 1,680 people (30.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 380 people (6.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 80 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 310 people (5.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $33,440
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 150 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Mankato by diners
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 170 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $31,650
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 1,300 people (23.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $31,460
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 380 people (6.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Mankato that don't require a college degree
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 1,760 people (31.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 140 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Mankato
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 190 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 110 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 160 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $23,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 450 people (8.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.01
- Total employment: 790 people (14.24 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Mankato that require a graduate degree
