Undrey // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 240 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Brownsville
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 Brownsville. 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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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Special education teachers, preschool
- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 210 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 1,140 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 530 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 270 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 3,770 people (23.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 370 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 1,520 people (9.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 1,520 people (9.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 300 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $27,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 140 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,990
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $26,790
- Median hourly wage: $12.88
- Total employment: 180 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $26,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 310 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
21 / 50#29. Cooks, short order (tie)
- Median annual wage: $26,650
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Substitute teachers, short-term (tie)
- Median annual wage: $26,650
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,430
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 1,030 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $26,300
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,250
- Median hourly wage: $12.62
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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M2020 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Helpers--electricians
- Median annual wage: $26,090
- Median hourly wage: $12.54
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $25,470
- Median hourly wage: $12.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $25,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 810 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,290
- Median hourly wage: $12.16
- Total employment: 130 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $24,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: 880 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $24,070
- Median hourly wage: $11.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,830
- Median hourly wage: $11.46
- Total employment: 490 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $23,670
- Median hourly wage: $11.38
- Total employment: 3,670 people (23.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $23,220
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 2,640 people (16.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $23,180
- Median hourly wage: $11.14
- Total employment: 20,240 people (128.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,140
- Median hourly wage: $11.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $22,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.02
- Total employment: 760 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $22,840
- Median hourly wage: $10.98
- Total employment: 370 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 380 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $22,670
- Median hourly wage: $10.90
- Total employment: 120 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,580
- Median hourly wage: $10.86
- Total employment: 2,360 people (14.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $22,460
- Median hourly wage: $10.80
- Total employment: 620 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $22,390
- Median hourly wage: $10.77
- Total employment: 130 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,230
- Median hourly wage: $10.69
- Total employment: 260 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitreel // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $22,010
- Median hourly wage: $10.58
- Total employment: Not available
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $21,820
- Median hourly wage: $10.49
- Total employment: 4,710 people (29.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $21,250
- Median hourly wage: $10.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,240
- Median hourly wage: $10.21
- Total employment: 570 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $17,660
- Median hourly wage: $8.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 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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