Africa Studio // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Sherman
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 Sherman. 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 computer and engineering jobs in Sherman
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,180
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 160 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 800 people (15.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 570 people (10.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sherman for high school graduates
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 1,020 people (19.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $33,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $33,560
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $33,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 140 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
10 / 50#40. Real estate sales agents (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Sherman
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 80 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 350 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $32,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $32,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 170 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,680
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 210 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Sherman
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 1,370 people (26.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 1,510 people (29.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sherman
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 500 people (9.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 90 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Sherman area by diners
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 350 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 800 people (15.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 530 people (10.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 200 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Sherman by diners
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 120 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 80 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Sherman in the last week
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 80 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 80 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 220 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 170 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 90 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Sherman area by diners
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 1,170 people (22.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,390
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 70 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,190
- Median hourly wage: $12.59
- Total employment: 1,890 people (36.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $25,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.44
- Total employment: 180 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $25,860
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Sherman
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.37
- Total employment: 140 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $23,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $23,760
- Median hourly wage: $11.43
- Total employment: 80 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 630 people (12.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,560
- Median hourly wage: $11.33
- Total employment: 1,440 people (27.73 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: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Sherman
