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1 / 50#50. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $44,440
- Median hourly wage: $21.37
- Total employment: 3,120 people (24.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Olympia
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 Olympia. 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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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $44,270
- Median hourly wage: $21.28
- Total employment: 150 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $43,000
- Median hourly wage: $20.67
- Total employment: 1,360 people (10.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Order clerks
- Median annual wage: $42,710
- Median hourly wage: $20.54
- Total employment: Not available
worradirek // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $42,570
- Median hourly wage: $20.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Leika production // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $42,550
- Median hourly wage: $20.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $42,510
- Median hourly wage: $20.44
- Total employment: 360 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $41,890
- Median hourly wage: $20.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $41,840
- Median hourly wage: $20.12
- Total employment: 200 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,530
- Median hourly wage: $19.97
- Total employment: 1,040 people (8.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $41,270
- Median hourly wage: $19.84
- Total employment: 230 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $40,250
- Median hourly wage: $19.35
- Total employment: 2,140 people (16.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $40,140
- Median hourly wage: $19.30
- Total employment: 150 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $40,060
- Median hourly wage: $19.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $39,970
- Median hourly wage: $19.22
- Total employment: 110 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $39,520
- Median hourly wage: $19.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $39,510
- Median hourly wage: $19.00
- Total employment: 160 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $39,360
- Median hourly wage: $18.93
- Total employment: 360 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $39,200
- Median hourly wage: $18.85
- Total employment: 340 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $39,170
- Median hourly wage: $18.83
- Total employment: 1,170 people (9.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $38,920
- Median hourly wage: $18.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $38,830
- Median hourly wage: $18.67
- Total employment: 220 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $38,630
- Median hourly wage: $18.57
- Total employment: 420 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $38,000
- Median hourly wage: $18.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,950
- Median hourly wage: $18.24
- Total employment: 210 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,950
- Median hourly wage: $18.24
- Total employment: 560 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $37,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.18
- Total employment: 770 people (6.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $37,620
- Median hourly wage: $18.09
- Total employment: 410 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,610
- Median hourly wage: $18.08
- Total employment: 160 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $37,270
- Median hourly wage: $17.92
- Total employment: 3,050 people (23.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $37,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $37,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $36,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 260 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $36,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 270 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 180 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
shocky // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $36,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 230 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 2,370 people (18.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $36,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 330 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $35,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $35,890
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 340 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tong_stocker // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Helpers--carpenters
- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: Not available
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 3,530 people (27.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $35,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.08
- Total employment: 120 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 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: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $34,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 180 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 390 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 210 people (1.65 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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