Lowest-paying jobs in Bremerton

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 Bremerton. 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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nullplus // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Light truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $46,200
- Median hourly wage: $22.21
- Total employment: 590 people (6.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $45,880
- Median hourly wage: $22.06
- Total employment: 100 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ESB Basic // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $45,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.00
- Total employment: 670 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $45,690
- Median hourly wage: $21.97
- Total employment: 2,090 people (22.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

zhu difeng // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $45,320
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Total employment: 140 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $45,240
- Median hourly wage: $21.75
- Total employment: 360 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $45,090
- Median hourly wage: $21.68
- Total employment: 740 people (7.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $44,750
- Median hourly wage: $21.52
- Total employment: 1,220 people (13.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $44,710
- Median hourly wage: $21.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $44,600
- Median hourly wage: $21.44
- Total employment: 1,090 people (11.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kzenon // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $44,550
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 270 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Ophthalmic medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $44,060
- Median hourly wage: $21.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $44,000
- Median hourly wage: $21.15
- Total employment: 1,150 people (12.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

grivet // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

- Median annual wage: $43,940
- Median hourly wage: $21.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $43,480
- Median hourly wage: $20.90
- Total employment: 820 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Carlovis // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $43,150
- Median hourly wage: $20.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $42,960
- Median hourly wage: $20.65
- Total employment: 150 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $42,670
- Median hourly wage: $20.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $42,010
- Median hourly wage: $20.20
- Total employment: 140 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $41,850
- Median hourly wage: $20.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $40,360
- Median hourly wage: $19.41
- Total employment: 1,600 people (17.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $39,800
- Median hourly wage: $19.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $39,550
- Median hourly wage: $19.02
- Total employment: 200 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $39,430
- Median hourly wage: $18.96
- Total employment: 80 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $39,130
- Median hourly wage: $18.81
- Total employment: 230 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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MAVV // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $39,120
- Median hourly wage: $18.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $38,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.70
- Total employment: 180 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $38,620
- Median hourly wage: $18.57
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $38,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Total employment: 240 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,000
- Median hourly wage: $18.27
- Total employment: 120 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $37,970
- Median hourly wage: $18.26
- Total employment: 110 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $37,710
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 230 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $37,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 440 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,570
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 660 people (7.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $37,430
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $37,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 2,650 people (28.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $37,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: 200 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $37,110
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 240 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $37,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 1,810 people (19.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 230 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 320 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 2,920 people (31.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 240 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 400 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 140 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)