Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Laredo
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 Laredo. 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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Undrey // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 480 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 590 people (5.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 260 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,190 people (11.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 110 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 1,520 people (14.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 920 people (8.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
giocalde // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Printing press operators
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 680 people (6.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitreel // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 130 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 260 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 190 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 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: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 410 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 320 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $27,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 840 people (7.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 1,090 people (10.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 90 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $26,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 300 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 90 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,780
- Median hourly wage: $12.88
- Total employment: 1,540 people (14.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 1,380 people (13.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $26,470
- Median hourly wage: $12.73
- Total employment: 150 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $26,310
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 3,130 people (29.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 480 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $25,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.32
- Total employment: 2,580 people (24.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,290
- Median hourly wage: $12.16
- Total employment: 380 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $25,070
- Median hourly wage: $12.05
- Total employment: 390 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $24,590
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: Not available
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $24,140
- Median hourly wage: $11.61
- Total employment: 260 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $24,090
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 180 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Educational instruction and library workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,950
- Median hourly wage: $11.51
- Total employment: 340 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $23,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.51
- Total employment: 1,040 people (9.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
43 / 50#7. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Home health and personal care aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 7,560 people (71.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.89
- Total employment: 3,560 people (33.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $22,550
- Median hourly wage: $10.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,450
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 250 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $22,170
- Median hourly wage: $10.66
- Total employment: 450 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $21,470
- Median hourly wage: $10.32
- Total employment: 400 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $19,340
- Median hourly wage: $9.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 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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