Lowest-paying jobs in Spokane

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 Spokane. 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.

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $39,520
- Median hourly wage: $19.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Office machine operators, except computer

- Median annual wage: $39,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $39,310
- Median hourly wage: $18.90
- Total employment: 2,430 people (9.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $39,230
- Median hourly wage: $18.86
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $39,060
- Median hourly wage: $18.78
- Total employment: 120 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $38,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $38,770
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 690 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $38,700
- Median hourly wage: $18.61
- Total employment: 290 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#41. Bakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $38,680
- Median hourly wage: $18.60
- Total employment: 440 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)

- Median annual wage: $38,680
- Median hourly wage: $18.60
- Total employment: 220 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $38,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.47
- Total employment: 380 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $38,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Total employment: 580 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $38,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,930 people (11.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $38,030
- Median hourly wage: $18.29
- Total employment: 340 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $37,710
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 2,650 people (10.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $37,660
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 3,990 people (15.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $37,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 840 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 90 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $37,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 210 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leika production // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $37,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 160 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Photographers

- Median annual wage: $36,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.71
- Total employment: 170 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

O.PASH // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $36,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.60
- Total employment: 470 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $36,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 260 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 220 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 350 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $36,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 1,600 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 410 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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NIKCOA // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $36,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 170 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $35,840
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 7,550 people (29.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

shocky // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $35,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 380 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $35,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.08
- Total employment: 840 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 4,330 people (16.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $35,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 1,520 people (5.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,240
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 720 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 220 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 740 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 310 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 810 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $34,880
- Median hourly wage: $16.77
- Total employment: 7,730 people (30.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 530 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $34,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 450 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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guruXOX // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Camera operators, television, video, and film

- Median annual wage: $34,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 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: $34,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 280 people (1.08 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: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 740 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $34,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 730 people (2.85 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.