Lowest-paying jobs in Walla Walla
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 Walla Walla, WA, 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. Light truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $42,130
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,630
- Employment: 1,010,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,560)
--- Waterbury, CT ($50,100)
#49. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $41,930
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,510
- Employment: 347,170
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,150)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)
#48. Bus drivers, school
- Annual mean salary: $41,760
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,750
- Employment: 361,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($55,400)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($55,150)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($53,770)
#47. Biological technicians
- Annual mean salary: $41,310
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,770
- Employment: 76,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($69,050)
--- Boulder, CO ($68,640)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($65,940)
#46. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $40,790
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $40,420
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,240
- Employment: 892,450
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)
#44. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Annual mean salary: $40,150
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,210
- Employment: 795,360
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($51,470)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,440)
--- Anchorage, AK ($47,150)
#43. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $39,620
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,190
- Employment: 727,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($58,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)
#42. Office clerks, general
- Annual mean salary: $39,490
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,990
- Employment: 2,578,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,740)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($48,850)
#41. Customer service representatives
- Annual mean salary: $39,250
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 2,787,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($50,510)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($47,490)
#40. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $39,190
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,740
- Employment: 656,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,010)
--- Napa, CA ($52,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,300)
#39. Printing press operators
- Annual mean salary: $39,010
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,120
- Employment: 145,290
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($56,850)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($51,730)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($50,370)
#38. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $38,890
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,010
- Employment: 55,930
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bowling Green, KY ($49,980)
--- Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL ($48,400)
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($48,360)
#37. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $38,550
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#36. Tellers
- Annual mean salary: $38,520
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#35. Parts salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $38,030
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,920
- Employment: 265,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($48,330)
--- Danville, IL ($48,080)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($47,620)
#34. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Annual mean salary: $37,400
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,950
- Employment: 758,290
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($60,930)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($58,200)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($53,310)
#33. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $37,370
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,520
- Employment: 392,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)
#32. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $37,070
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#31. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $36,920
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- Employment: 2,729,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($42,590)
#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)
#29. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $35,970
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#28. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Annual mean salary: $35,860
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#27. Cooks, restaurant
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#26. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $35,360
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)
#25. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $35,300
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
#24. Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $35,190
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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. Butchers and meat cutters
- Annual mean salary: $35,080
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#22. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)
#21. Counter and rental clerks
- Annual mean salary: $34,900
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,170
- Employment: 371,620
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,760)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($47,080)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,760)
#20. Receptionists and information clerks
- Annual mean salary: $34,410
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#19. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,680
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $33,660
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#17. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $33,630
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)
#16. Driver/sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $33,510
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#15. Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $33,040
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#14. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Annual mean salary: $32,710
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $32,530
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#12. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $32,170
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $32,040
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#10. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $31,830
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $31,780
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#8. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $31,700
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $31,050
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#6. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)
#5. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $30,800
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#3. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $30,520
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#2. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,440
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
#1. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,260
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)