Leika production // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $37,510
- Median hourly wage: $18.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Eugene
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 Eugene. 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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New Africa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 1,310 people (8.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $37,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 770 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 160 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 380 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 430 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $36,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 1,400 people (8.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $35,840
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $35,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 2,040 people (12.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $35,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 170 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 270 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 130 people (0.85 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: $35,240
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 280 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 200 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 230 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 1,150 people (7.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 300 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 4,220 people (26.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 350 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 1,050 people (6.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 330 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 300 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 150 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $33,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.11
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,490
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $33,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.03
- Total employment: 340 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 410 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 340 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 510 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 510 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $32,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 3,530 people (22.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tong_stocker // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Helpers--carpenters
- Median annual wage: $32,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: Not available
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 350 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 180 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $31,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 120 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $31,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 6,250 people (39.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 1,770 people (11.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 900 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 390 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 340 people (2.17 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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