New Africa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 880 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Killeen
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 Killeen. 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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aappp // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Aircraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 250 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 440 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 200 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 470 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 2,610 people (17.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 3,820 people (25.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 180 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 200 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 180 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,000 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 390 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 1,420 people (9.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 160 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 1,910 people (12.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 220 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 270 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 180 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 330 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 140 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.02
- Total employment: 430 people (2.91 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: $27,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 300 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 1,790 people (12.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $26,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 140 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 3,510 people (23.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,540
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 550 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $26,420
- Median hourly wage: $12.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $26,390
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 750 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $25,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.47
- Total employment: 470 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $25,560
- Median hourly wage: $12.29
- Total employment: 370 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $25,240
- Median hourly wage: $12.14
- Total employment: 5,790 people (38.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $24,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.97
- Total employment: 480 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $23,990
- Median hourly wage: $11.54
- Total employment: 510 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,760
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 1,840 people (12.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $23,050
- Median hourly wage: $11.08
- Total employment: 90 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,780
- Median hourly wage: $10.95
- Total employment: 320 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $22,750
- Median hourly wage: $10.94
- Total employment: 370 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,220 people (14.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $21,950
- Median hourly wage: $10.56
- Total employment: 190 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $21,340
- Median hourly wage: $10.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 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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