Syda Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $38,310
- Median hourly wage: $18.42
- Total employment: 280 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Oshkosh
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 Oshkosh. 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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2 / 50#49. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $38,240
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $38,190
- Median hourly wage: $18.36
- Total employment: 450 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $37,850
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 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: $37,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 100 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $37,510
- Median hourly wage: $18.03
- Total employment: 200 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $37,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 670 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $37,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 630 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $37,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $37,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 670 people (7.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 120 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 140 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 530 people (5.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 1,150 people (12.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 160 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 70 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 920 people (9.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 90 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $34,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 130 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 1,160 people (12.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 190 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,990
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 300 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 2,150 people (22.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 1,860 people (19.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 160 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 590 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 320 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 180 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 1,870 people (19.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 210 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 180 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 1,110 people (11.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 1,690 people (18.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 430 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 130 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 110 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 240 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $25,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.23
- Total employment: 170 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $24,060
- Median hourly wage: $11.57
- Total employment: 450 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,560
- Median hourly wage: $10.85
- Total employment: 930 people (9.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,760
- Median hourly wage: $10.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $20,680
- Median hourly wage: $9.94
- Total employment: 100 people (1.02 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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