Lowest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C.

Written by:
June 20, 2022
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

Lowest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C.

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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 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.

#50. Substitute teachers, short-term

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,850
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,100

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)

#49. Funeral attendants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 32,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,270)
--- Trenton, NJ ($43,730)

#48. Sewing machine operators

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,580
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

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)

#47. Nursing assistants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,490
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,990

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)

#46. Waiters and waitresses

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,480
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 31,380

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)

#45. Pharmacy aides

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,450
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,560
- Employment: 43,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($59,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,630)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,450)

#44. Demonstrators and product promoters

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,430
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,990
- Employment: 40,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,820)
--- Boulder, CO ($51,470)
--- Prescott, AZ ($47,200)

#43. Baggage porters and bellhops

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,140
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,040
- Employment: 20,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,160)

#42. Packers and packagers, hand

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $35,110
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,880

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)

#41. Stockers and order fillers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,970
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 37,000

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)

#40. School bus monitors

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,800
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140

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)

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,720
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230

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)

#38. Cooks, restaurant

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,670
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,170

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- Employment: 1,193,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)

#37. Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,530
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,580
- Employment: 32,310
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ($57,520)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($56,150)
--- Reading, PA ($53,660)

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,310
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 49,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,860
- Employment: 2,036,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)

#35. Barbers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,180
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,700
- Employment: 12,910
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,020)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($48,170)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($48,120)

#34. Telemarketers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,150
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- Employment: 115,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,120)
--- New Haven, CT ($48,680)

#33. Retail salespersons

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $34,060
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 62,510

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)

#32. Orderlies

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,820
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,440
- Employment: 45,160
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,370)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,740)

#31. Food cooking machine operators and tenders

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,760
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,430
- Employment: 26,710
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madison, WI ($44,500)
--- Wausau, WI ($44,290)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($43,260)

#30. Physical therapist aides

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,630
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,370
- Employment: 42,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($45,060)
--- Jackson, MS ($42,210)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,510)

#29. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,610
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,440

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)

#28. Childcare workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,300
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,780

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)

#27. Manicurists and pedicurists

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,250
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,820

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,480
- Employment: 120,540
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($45,320)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($42,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($40,030)

#26. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,150
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,270
- Employment: 8,940
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($46,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,610)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($43,320)

#25. Helpers--production workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,080
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,740

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)

#24. Food servers, nonrestaurant

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $33,040
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,840

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)

#23. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $32,780
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,980

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)

#22. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $32,620
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,390
- Employment: 54,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($48,540)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,140)

#21. Animal caretakers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $32,360
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,790

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)

#20. Food preparation workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $32,330
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,840

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)

#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $32,260
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,260

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)

#18. Parking attendants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $31,520
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,210
- Employment: 91,160
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,420)

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $31,280
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,320
- Employment: 114,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($43,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,930)

#16. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $31,220
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460

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)

#14 (tie). Cooks, fast food

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,910
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,720

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)

#14 (tie). Dishwashers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,910
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,530

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)

#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,390

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)

#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,650
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,440

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)

#11. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,640
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,220
- Employment: 9,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,160)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($40,250)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($39,710)

#10. Driver/sales workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,570
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,060

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)

#9. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,510
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 26,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,040)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($37,370)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($36,530)

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,250
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,780

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)

#7. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $30,160
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,100
- Employment: 11,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($45,730)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,810)

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

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $29,840
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,680
- Employment: 132,100
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($40,580)
--- Anchorage, AK ($40,540)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,730)

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $29,610
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,530

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)

#4. Cashiers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $29,550
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 57,300

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)

#3. Fast food and counter workers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $29,100
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 57,440

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)

#2. Cooks, short order

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 124,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,060)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,940)

#1. Shampooers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $24,630
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,160
- Employment: 9,560
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($30,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($29,800)
--- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($28,700)

Trending Now