Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Provo
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 Provo. 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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Leika production // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: Not available
Kitreel // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 640 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 1,820 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sewing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 200 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
6 / 50#44. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 400 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 510 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 150 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $34,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 200 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 1,140 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 700 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 820 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $33,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 850 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.13
- Total employment: 1,300 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 770 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 360 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 870 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $33,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 510 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.55
- Total employment: 7,730 people (25.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 150 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,910
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 270 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 1,300 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 240 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 180 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 260 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 700 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,630 people (12.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 1,200 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 2,790 people (9.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 4,890 people (16.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 4,820 people (16.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 350 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 270 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 470 people (1.59 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: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 640 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 11,760 people (39.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 170 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 590 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 440 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,670
- Median hourly wage: $12.82
- Total employment: 550 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,490
- Median hourly wage: $12.26
- Total employment: 990 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $23,460
- Median hourly wage: $11.28
- Total employment: 200 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $20,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.00
- Total employment: 470 people (1.57 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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