zhu difeng // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: Not available
Lowest-paying jobs in Ogden
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 Ogden. 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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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 870 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 220 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 310 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
6 / 50#44. Home health and personal care aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 2,290 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yulai Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Surgical assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: Not available
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 560 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 770 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SGr // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Machine feeders and offbearers
- Median annual wage: $34,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $34,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 250 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 6,750 people (24.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 1,290 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 720 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Home appliance repairers
- Median annual wage: $33,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
20 / 50#30. Automotive and watercraft service attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 330 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Crossing guards and flaggers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 360 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,130
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 610 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 330 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 450 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
guruXOX // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Camera operators, television, video, and film
- Median annual wage: $32,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $32,090
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 770 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 180 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 190 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 360 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Grusho Anna // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Set and exhibit designers
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 2,370 people (8.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 4,030 people (14.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 4,670 people (17.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 430 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: Not available
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 9,860 people (36.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 1,770 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 430 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,150
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 1,060 people (3.92 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: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 590 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 900 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 520 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $26,490
- Median hourly wage: $12.73
- Total employment: 180 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $25,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.21
- Total employment: 240 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 1,270 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Median annual wage: $24,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $20,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 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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