Syda Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 290 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Columbia, Missouri
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 Columbia. 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-rated restaurants for burgers in the Columbia, Missouri area by diners
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 420 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 130 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 290 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 130 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Columbia, Missouri that require a graduate degree
Undrey // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 200 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 150 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 670 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#40. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 1,280 people (12.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Columbia, Missouri
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Switchboard operators, including answering service (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 110 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,880
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 1,830 people (17.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $33,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 1,200 people (11.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $32,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.67
- Total employment: 170 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Columbia, Missouri area by diners
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $32,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 150 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 670 people (6.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $31,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 240 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 540 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Columbia, Missouri
DGLimages // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,920 people (18.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 210 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 2,410 people (22.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 310 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Columbia, Missouri in the last week
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
29 / 50#21. Cooks, short order (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physical therapist aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Columbia, Missouri
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 320 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 310 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 320 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 100 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 200 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Columbia, Missouri
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 530 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 2,280 people (21.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 270 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 180 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 490 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Columbia, Missouri buyers
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 2,220 people (20.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 700 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 1,300 people (12.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 410 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Columbia, Missouri
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 390 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $25,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.48
- Total employment: 2,260 people (21.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $25,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: Not available
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: 640 people (6.05 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-rated pizza restaurants in the Columbia, Missouri area by diners
