Lowest-paying jobs in Texarkana

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 Texarkana. 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 Texarkana

worradirek // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 60 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 140 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

guteksk7 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

- Median annual wage: $33,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $33,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 80 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

alexdov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood

- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 80 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $33,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $33,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 410 people (7.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $33,110
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Standret // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $32,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 220 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

zhu difeng // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $32,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.46
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $31,990
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 780 people (13.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Undrey // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Data entry keyers

- Median annual wage: $31,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $31,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 220 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Ophthalmic medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 560 people (9.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 330 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $29,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 80 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 1,710 people (29.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 70 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 630 people (10.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 660 people (11.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 190 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 100 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 250 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $27,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 190 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $26,980
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $26,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 100 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $26,390
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 300 people (5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $26,090
- Median hourly wage: $12.54
- Total employment: 1,500 people (26.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $25,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.47
- Total employment: 130 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $25,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $25,490
- Median hourly wage: $12.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $24,950
- Median hourly wage: $11.99
- Total employment: 170 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $24,690
- Median hourly wage: $11.87
- Total employment: 960 people (16.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $24,300
- Median hourly wage: $11.68
- Total employment: 110 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $23,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $23,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 190 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $23,630
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 240 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $23,570
- Median hourly wage: $11.33
- Total employment: 490 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $23,220
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 1,920 people (33.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $23,210
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 230 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,100
- Median hourly wage: $11.11
- Total employment: 60 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $23,010
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 150 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)