Lowest-paying jobs in Burlington
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there's a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.
Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.
Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Burlington-South Burlington, VT, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
#49 (tie). Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $37,450
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
#49 (tie). Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Annual mean salary: $37,450
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,440
- Employment: 277,200
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,490)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,560)
--- Ithaca, NY ($39,570)
#48. Data entry keyers
- Annual mean salary: $37,400
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,940
- Employment: 147,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($46,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,530)
#47. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $37,330
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,750
- Employment: 358,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($60,150)
--- Albany, GA ($53,570)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($50,590)
#46. Butchers and meat cutters
- Annual mean salary: $37,090
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 145,930
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,570)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($50,510)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($48,490)
#45. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $37,010
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,970
- Employment: 436,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,340)
--- Napa, CA ($58,620)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($58,390)
#44. Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $36,850
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,300
- Employment: 181,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,850)
--- Chattanooga, TN-GA ($41,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,160)
#43. Emergency medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,430
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,690
- Employment: 161,400
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($63,500)
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($59,020)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,770)
#42. Tellers
- Annual mean salary: $36,340
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,930
- Employment: 364,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
--- Napa, CA ($42,000)
#41. Security guards
- Annual mean salary: $36,310
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,830
- Employment: 1,057,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)
#39 (tie). Crossing guards and flaggers
- Annual mean salary: $36,290
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- Employment: 82,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,540)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($55,860)
--- Bellingham, WA ($54,870)
#39 (tie). Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $36,290
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,340
- Employment: 485,330
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)
#38. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $36,240
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,450
- Employment: 132,750
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,940)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,050)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($53,880)
#37. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $36,220
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,250
- Employment: 118,670
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)
#36. File clerks
- Annual mean salary: $36,040
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,820
- Employment: 85,460
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($50,210)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($49,450)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,780)
#35. Floral designers
- Annual mean salary: $35,430
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,100
- Employment: 36,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($44,600)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,120)
#34. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $35,260
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,920
- Employment: 3,693,490
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)
#33. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $35,050
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- Employment: 983,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,680)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($41,290)
#32. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $34,740
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,490
- Employment: 768,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)
#31. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $34,730
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,250
- Employment: 1,314,830
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,500)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,210)
#30. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $34,710
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,020
- Employment: 264,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)
#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $34,420
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,960
- Employment: 111,480
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)
#28. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $34,370
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,360
- Employment: 34,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($60,540)
--- New Haven, CT ($56,490)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,740)
#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $34,330
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- Employment: 220,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)
#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $33,940
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,580
- Employment: 723,430
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)
#25. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,880
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,970
- Employment: 477,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bismarck, ND ($48,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,390)
--- Fargo, ND-MN ($46,360)
#24. Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,810
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,910
- Employment: 202,860
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
--- Pittsfield, MA ($43,910)
--- Reno, NV ($41,940)
#23. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,740
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,090
- Employment: 88,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($58,590)
--- Reno, NV ($50,700)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($50,600)
#22. Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,720
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,520
- Employment: 225,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
--- Salinas, CA ($37,420)
#21. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $33,490
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- Employment: 1,804,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
--- Ithaca, NY ($44,970)
#20. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $33,400
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)
#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,380
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,830
- Employment: 157,400
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)
#18. Bicycle repairers
- Annual mean salary: $33,360
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Employment: 14,760
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,650)
--- Boulder, CO ($40,810)
#17. Sewing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $33,310
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,880
- Employment: 116,220
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Appleton, WI ($43,060)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($42,270)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($40,660)
#16. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,280
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,680
- Employment: 438,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
--- Napa, CA ($36,850)
#15. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $32,920
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,020
- Employment: 2,451,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)
#14. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $32,190
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,550
- Employment: 351,960
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)
#13. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $32,030
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,500
- Employment: 243,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($46,270)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,400)
#12. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $31,530
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- Employment: 585,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
--- Rome, GA ($38,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)
#11. School bus monitors
- Annual mean salary: $31,350
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,220
- Employment: 55,310
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($49,850)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($48,610)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,750)
#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $31,220
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,690
- Employment: 336,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($38,490)
--- Ithaca, NY ($38,170)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,910)
#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $31,090
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,000
- Employment: 324,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,060)
--- Madera, CA ($36,490)
#8. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,780
- Employment: 98,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ames, IA ($44,000)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,920)
#7. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,590
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,810
- Employment: 783,350
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)
#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $29,960
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,060
- Employment: 3,095,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)
#5. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Annual mean salary: $29,760
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,570
- Employment: 175,660
- Entry level education requirements: not available
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
--- Napa, CA ($42,730)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)
#4. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $29,370
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,350
- Employment: 377,040
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)
#3. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Annual mean salary: $29,230
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,990
- Employment: 285,980
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($53,630)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($53,470)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($52,630)
#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $28,740
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,110
- Employment: 262,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,800)
--- Anchorage, AK ($36,020)
#1. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $28,580
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,780
- Employment: 3,335,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)