Lowest-paying jobs in Merced

Stacker
#50. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $38,870
- Median hourly wage: $18.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $38,680
- Median hourly wage: $18.60
- Total employment: 1,610 people (20.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Slaughterers and meat packers

- Median annual wage: $38,660
- Median hourly wage: $18.59
- Total employment: 1,060 people (13.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $38,620
- Median hourly wage: $18.57
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $38,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 400 people (5.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $38,420
- Median hourly wage: $18.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $38,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,270
- Median hourly wage: $18.40
- Total employment: 170 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,020
- Median hourly wage: $18.28
- Total employment: 350 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $37,990
- Median hourly wage: $18.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $37,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,630 people (20.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $37,800
- Median hourly wage: $18.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $37,740
- Median hourly wage: $18.14
- Total employment: 500 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $37,580
- Median hourly wage: $18.07
- Total employment: 420 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 330 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $37,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 1,040 people (13.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Social workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 190 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $36,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $36,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $36,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 110 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 2,540 people (32.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Agricultural workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 830 people (10.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $35,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 90 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $35,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.25
- Total employment: 80 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 210 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 3,830 people (48.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 230 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 390 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 1,490 people (18.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $34,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 240 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 130 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 2,340 people (29.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 170 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 190 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 220 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 130 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 4,460 people (56.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $33,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 630 people (8.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $33,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 160 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $33,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.03
- Total employment: 120 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $33,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of personal service workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 130 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 1,190 people (15.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock