Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Reading
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 Reading. 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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ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 830 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 440 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $35,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 380 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 1,510 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 1,050 people (6.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 350 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 110 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 530 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,300
- Median hourly wage: $15.53
- Total employment: 4,170 people (24.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 280 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $31,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,750 people (10.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 590 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 150 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 450 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 300 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 280 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 700 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 580 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 590 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Indypendenz // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 5,960 people (34.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 2,180 people (12.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 510 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 3,770 people (22.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 450 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 4,110 people (23.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 410 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 430 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 350 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $26,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,680
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 230 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $25,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.04
- Total employment: 1,010 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,340
- Median hourly wage: $11.22
- Total employment: 260 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $21,900
- Median hourly wage: $10.53
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
hedgehog94 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Shampooers
- Median annual wage: $21,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.33
- 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.
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