GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 1,060 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Beaumont
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 Beaumont. 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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Stokkete // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.28
- Total employment: 970 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 1,890 people (11.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 1,530 people (9.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 370 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 260 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 3,810 people (23.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,000 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 170 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 540 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 560 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 320 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 130 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 670 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 290 people (1.81 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: $27,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 200 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 2,340 people (14.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 3,390 people (21.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $27,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 160 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,910
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 1,400 people (8.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 650 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 250 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitreel // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $25,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $25,230
- Median hourly wage: $12.13
- Total employment: 680 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $24,100
- Median hourly wage: $11.59
- Total employment: 3,480 people (21.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $23,950
- Median hourly wage: $11.51
- Total employment: 4,800 people (30.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $23,950
- Median hourly wage: $11.51
- Total employment: 240 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 400 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,420 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $22,890
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 400 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $22,170
- Median hourly wage: $10.66
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $22,020
- Median hourly wage: $10.59
- Total employment: 550 people (3.48 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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