Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Amarillo
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 Amarillo. 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.
worradirek // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 180 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $32,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 950 people (7.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 150 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 330 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $31,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 1,970 people (16.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 580 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 1,250 people (10.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 320 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 170 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 270 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 110 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
23 / 50#27. Cooks, short order (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 3,330 people (27.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 2,090 people (17.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 270 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 250 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 930 people (7.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 310 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 350 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 490 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 2,900 people (23.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $26,670
- Median hourly wage: $12.82
- Total employment: 180 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,570
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 1,230 people (10.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $26,360
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 140 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,310
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 480 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,160
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 420 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.55
- Total employment: 220 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $24,550
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 4,240 people (34.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.48
- Total employment: 1,810 people (14.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $23,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 550 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,760
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 360 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,050 people (8.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $23,260
- Median hourly wage: $11.19
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,680
- Median hourly wage: $10.91
- Total employment: 310 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,410
- Median hourly wage: $10.77
- Total employment: 220 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $22,390
- Median hourly wage: $10.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $21,170
- Median hourly wage: $10.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 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.
