Lowest-paying jobs in Yakima

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

Lowest-paying jobs in Yakima

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 Yakima, 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. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $36,650
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,150
- Employment: 34,140
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,780)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,120)
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($41,660)

#48 (tie). Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,960
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750

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)

#48 (tie). Driver/sales workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,960
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#47. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,820
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,520
- Employment: 159,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,950)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($45,550)
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($44,840)

#46. Cooks, restaurant

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,670
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

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)

#45. Fiberglass laminators and fabricators

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,360
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,360
- Employment: 17,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($54,520)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($54,330)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($52,260)

#44. Bakers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,340
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,230
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610

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)

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

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,110
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#41. Phlebotomists

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,090
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#40. Receptionists and information clerks

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,080
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900

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)

#39. Retail salespersons

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $35,030
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770

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)

#38. Recreation workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,910
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#37. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,030
- Employment: 67,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($59,780)
--- Syracuse, NY ($51,600)
--- Albany, OR ($50,470)

#36. Tire repairers and changers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,220
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,520
- Employment: 93,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($44,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,370)

#35. Emergency medical technicians

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,210
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#34. Pharmacy aides

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,200
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#33. Preschool teachers, except special education

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,180
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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)

#31 (tie). Library assistants, clerical

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,020
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,490
- Employment: 78,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,500)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($49,030)

#31 (tie). Nursing assistants

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $34,020
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

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. Helpers--production workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,900
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#29. Demonstrators and product promoters

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,770
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#28. Residential advisors

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- Employment: 92,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($50,560)
--- Napa, CA ($48,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,210)

#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,660
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#26. Gambling dealers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,590
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,960
- Employment: 64,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($50,000)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($45,790)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($45,250)

#25. Food preparation workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,550
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)

#24. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,390
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#23. Cooks, short order

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $33,270
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#22. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,830
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760

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)

#21. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,770
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#20. Animal caretakers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,740
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#19. Physical therapist aides

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,640
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#18. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,390
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,240
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#16. Agricultural equipment operators

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,170
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,280
- Employment: 26,180
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dubuque, IA ($45,450)
--- Wichita, KS ($45,340)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($45,240)

#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $32,020
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#14. Dishwashers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $31,630
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $31,590
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#12. Cooks, fast food

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $31,290
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#11. Cashiers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $31,080
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070

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)

#10. Amusement and recreation attendants

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $31,030
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#9. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,970
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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)

#8. Childcare workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,860
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#7. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,770
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

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

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,700
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,800

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)

#5. Food servers, nonrestaurant

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#4. Fast food and counter workers

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,620
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,140

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)

#3. Parking attendants

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,420
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#2. Packers and packagers, hand

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,380
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,760

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)

#1. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

Yakima, WA
- Annual mean salary: $30,150
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,400
- Employment: 25,560
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($39,950)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($39,780)
--- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($38,850)

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