wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 90 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Lubbock
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 Lubbock. 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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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $31,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 490 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 300 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 190 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 370 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $30,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 1,200 people (7.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 2,560 people (15.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 1,880 people (11.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Agricultural equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 160 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 400 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 5,100 people (30.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 230 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 260 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
20 / 50#30. Cooks, short order (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 230 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 770 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 510 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 240 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 260 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 250 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 470 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $26,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.88
- Total employment: 140 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 680 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $26,570
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,460
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 3,210 people (19.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,230
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 630 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 1,910 people (11.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $25,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.45
- Total employment: 3,610 people (21.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $24,660
- Median hourly wage: $11.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $24,280
- Median hourly wage: $11.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $24,160
- Median hourly wage: $11.61
- Total employment: 760 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $24,090
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 560 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $23,670
- Median hourly wage: $11.38
- Total employment: 320 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,570
- Median hourly wage: $11.33
- Total employment: 1,110 people (6.7 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: $23,540
- Median hourly wage: $11.32
- Total employment: 3,530 people (21.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,190
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 6,780 people (40.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,660 people (10.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,980
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 870 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $21,860
- Median hourly wage: $10.51
- Total employment: 180 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $20,340
- Median hourly wage: $9.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $20,120
- Median hourly wage: $9.67
- Total employment: 130 people (0.76 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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