DSBfoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $37,510
- Median hourly wage: $18.04
- Total employment: 1,250 people (18.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Missoula
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 Missoula. 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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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
2 / 50#48. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 130 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $37,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $37,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.91
- Total employment: 210 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $37,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 1,050 people (15.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $37,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 220 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 200 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $36,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 160 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 220 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 120 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 160 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,570
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 130 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 210 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 410 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 190 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,560
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 290 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 1,950 people (29.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 330 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $33,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 680 people (10.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $33,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $33,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 150 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
guruXOX // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Camera operators, television, video, and film
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 1,580 people (23.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: 100 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 350 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 1,250 people (18.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,720
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 200 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 240 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 2,360 people (35.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 160 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 190 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 200 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 300 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 230 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 80 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 190 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,640
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,970
- Median hourly wage: $11.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $22,340
- Median hourly wage: $10.74
- Total employment: 110 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,210
- Median hourly wage: $10.68
- Total employment: 560 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $21,950
- Median hourly wage: $10.55
- Total employment: 1,000 people (15.08 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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