Lowest-paying jobs in Yakima

·Stacker

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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 Yakima. 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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#50. Stockers and order fillers

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1 / 50

#50. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $39,680
- Median hourly wage: $19.08
- Total employment: 2,100 people (21.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

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2 / 50

#49. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $39,560
- Median hourly wage: $19.02
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Tire repairers and changers

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $38,970
- Median hourly wage: $18.73
- Total employment: 130 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $38,740
- Median hourly wage: $18.63
- Total employment: 180 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Educational instruction and library workers, all other

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6 / 50

#45. Educational instruction and library workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,430
- Median hourly wage: $18.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Emergency medical technicians

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7 / 50

#44. Emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $38,380
- Median hourly wage: $18.45
- Total employment: 130 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

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8 / 50

#43. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

- Median annual wage: $38,190
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 1,620 people (16.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Bakers

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9 / 50

#42. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 170 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders

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10 / 50

#41. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $37,880
- Median hourly wage: $18.21
- Total employment: 90 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Cooks, restaurant

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11 / 50

#40. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $37,850
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 730 people (7.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $37,840
- Median hourly wage: $18.19
- Total employment: 130 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Recreation workers

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.18
- Total employment: 150 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $37,480
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 1,680 people (17.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Couriers and messengers

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17 / 50

#34. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $37,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Residential advisors

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18 / 50

#33. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $37,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Firefighters

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19 / 50

#32. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $37,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 400 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

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20 / 50

#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 340 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#30. Pharmacy aides

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21 / 50

#30. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $36,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 460 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Helpers--production workers

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23 / 50

#28. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $36,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.58
- Total employment: 130 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Floral designers

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24 / 50

#27. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant

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25 / 50

#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 200 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

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26 / 50

#25. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $36,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 930 people (9.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

worradirek // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

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28 / 50

#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 140 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Machine feeders and offbearers

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29 / 50

#22. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $36,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Preschool teachers, except special education

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30 / 50

#21. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 400 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#20. Food preparation workers

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31 / 50

#20. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 680 people (6.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

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32 / 50

#19. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $36,000
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 120 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Childcare workers

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33 / 50

#18. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Retail salespersons

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34 / 50

#17. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 2,550 people (25.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Dishwashers (tie)

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35 / 50

#15. Dishwashers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 230 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Driver/sales workers (tie)

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36 / 50

#15. Driver/sales workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 300 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Parking attendants

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37 / 50

#14. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Demonstrators and product promoters

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38 / 50

#13. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $35,570
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 150 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

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39 / 50

#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Amusement and recreation attendants

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41 / 50

#10. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 110 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Cashiers

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42 / 50

#9. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $35,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 2,220 people (22.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Fast food and counter workers

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43 / 50

#8. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 2,980 people (30.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

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44 / 50

#7. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 1,810 people (18.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Cooks, fast food

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45 / 50

#6. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 430 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#5. Packers and packagers, hand

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46 / 50

#5. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $34,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 3,520 people (35.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

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47 / 50

#4. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $34,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 1,730 people (17.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $34,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 190 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

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49 / 50

#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $34,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 130 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

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50 / 50

#1. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 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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