Lowest-paying jobs in St. Louis

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 St. Louis. 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.

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 5,410 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 20,160 people (15.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $34,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 910 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 6,500 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

encierro // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 240 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $34,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 200 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $34,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 2,350 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers

- Median annual wage: $34,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 190 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 160 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 180 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 2,960 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kelvn // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,090
- Median hourly wage: $15.91
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $33,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 28,680 people (21.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

APChanel // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $32,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: 3,960 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 420 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $32,130
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 2,880 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

O.PASH // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 290 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 3,920 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 2,970 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 850 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 920 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

George Rudy // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Directors, religious activities and education

- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 10,140 people (7.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 5,100 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 1,790 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 18,130 people (13.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 29,960 people (22.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 280 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#17. Fast food and counter workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 21,660 people (16.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Parking attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 850 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 4,450 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 42,390 people (31.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 3,650 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $29,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 1,090 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 3,180 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#8. Physical therapist aides (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 580 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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create jobs 51 // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#8. Legislators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 500 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 3,970 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Bartenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 8,910 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 20,010 people (14.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NIKCOA // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 450 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ruwan Muhandiramge // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 360 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $27,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 1,200 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Gambling dealers

- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.37
- Total employment: 780 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $25,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: Not available

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.