Gansstock // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Grinding and polishing workers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 90 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Albuquerque
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 Albuquerque. 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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shocky // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#46. Tutors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 170 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Receptionists and information clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 2,710 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
APChanel // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Transportation workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: Not available
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 1,830 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $34,920
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: Not available
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 560 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
9 / 50#41. School bus monitors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $34,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 360 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 3,930 people (9.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 520 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: Not available
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 210 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $33,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 6,930 people (17.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $32,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 540 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,990
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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grivet // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Median annual wage: $31,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: 210 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 11,130 people (27.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $31,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $31,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 6,040 people (15.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,350
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 640 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 710 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 390 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 560 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 1,770 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 1,110 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 1,680 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 860 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 3,260 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 1,380 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,360 people (8.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 230 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 750 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 7,900 people (19.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 1,510 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cooks, fast food (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 780 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 12,360 people (30.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 880 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 330 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 180 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 16,400 people (40.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 750 people (1.86 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: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 1,630 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $26,460
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $25,280
- Median hourly wage: $12.16
- Total employment: 510 people (1.28 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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