Undrey // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.61
- Total employment: 80 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Odessa
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 Odessa. 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Odessa that require a graduate degree
Milkovasa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Medical assistants
- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 250 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 190 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Opticians, dispensing (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Odessa that don't require a college degree
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 770 people (9.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.35
- Total employment: 170 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 100 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 230 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Odessa
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $34,920
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 400 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 420 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 840 people (10.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
giocalde // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Printing press operators
- Median annual wage: $34,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Odessa in the last week
Stokkete // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 720 people (9.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.97
- Total employment: 90 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: Not available
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $32,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Odessa
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: Not available
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $31,910
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Educational instruction and library workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 100 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 1,820 people (23.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 290 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Odessa by diners
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 130 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Odessa October 2025
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 370 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 170 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 220 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Odessa's 2025 housing market year in review
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,480
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 140 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 1,790 people (22.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 1,380 people (17.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 990 people (12.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 270 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Odessa
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 230 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 2,490 people (31.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 270 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $26,530
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Odessa
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $25,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (5.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $25,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.03
- Total employment: 340 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $24,030
- Median hourly wage: $11.55
- Total employment: 830 people (10.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $23,840
- Median hourly wage: $11.46
- Total employment: 390 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $22,470
- Median hourly wage: $10.80
- Total employment: 170 people (2.1 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.
You may also like: Odessa 7-day weather forecast
