Milkovasa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Medical assistants
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 370 people (8.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Cape Girardeau
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 Cape Girardeau. 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
2 / 50#49. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 180 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $35,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 70 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 630 people (14.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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nullplus // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 240 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $35,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 420 people (9.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 60 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 120 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 100 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $34,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 170 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 50 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $34,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 960 people (21.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 90 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 60 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 400 people (8.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $33,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $33,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 60 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
hedgehog94 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Pest control workers
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,990
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 490 people (10.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,810
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 200 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 70 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 110 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 300 people (6.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Indypendenz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 1,420 people (31.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 80 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 80 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 110 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 120 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 490 people (10.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,270 people (28.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 110 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 120 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 110 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 560 people (12.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 240 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 1,020 people (22.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 1,340 people (29.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 160 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 90 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 120 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 250 people (5.51 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: $26,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 140 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.37
- Total employment: 790 people (17.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Residential advisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: 40 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (13.49 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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