wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $44,280
- Median hourly wage: $21.29
- Total employment: 260 people (8.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Grants Pass
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 Grants Pass. 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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Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $44,240
- Median hourly wage: $21.27
- Total employment: 200 people (6.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $44,150
- Median hourly wage: $21.22
- Total employment: 260 people (8.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Preschool teachers, except special education (tie)
- Median annual wage: $43,560
- Median hourly wage: $20.94
- Total employment: 110 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Machinists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $43,560
- Median hourly wage: $20.94
- Total employment: 90 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $43,210
- Median hourly wage: $20.78
- Total employment: 80 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $42,610
- Median hourly wage: $20.49
- Total employment: 50 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $41,570
- Median hourly wage: $19.99
- Total employment: 60 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $40,670
- Median hourly wage: $19.55
- Total employment: 40 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $40,510
- Median hourly wage: $19.48
- Total employment: 50 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $40,500
- Median hourly wage: $19.47
- Total employment: 160 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $39,780
- Median hourly wage: $19.13
- Total employment: 120 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $39,610
- Median hourly wage: $19.05
- Total employment: 50 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $39,040
- Median hourly wage: $18.77
- Total employment: 70 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $38,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.50
- Total employment: 90 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $38,230
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 330 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $38,200
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 210 people (6.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 470 people (15.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $37,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.17
- Total employment: 60 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $37,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.16
- Total employment: 250 people (8.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $37,630
- Median hourly wage: $18.09
- Total employment: 80 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $37,560
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 60 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 60 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 130 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 760 people (24.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 50 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 200 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 790 people (25.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 90 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $35,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 50 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 270 people (8.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 250 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (15.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 80 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 90 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 90 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 80 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,740
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 160 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 80 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 1,180 people (38.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 200 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Directors, religious activities and education
- Median annual wage: $33,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 60 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 740 people (23.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 60 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 310 people (10.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $32,460
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 100 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $31,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 90 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 90 people (2.88 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: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.74 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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