Lowest-paying jobs in Santa Cruz

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#50. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $42,460
- Median hourly wage: $20.41
- Total employment: 1,130 people (11.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $41,750
- Median hourly wage: $20.07
- Total employment: 420 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $41,340
- Median hourly wage: $19.88
- Total employment: 420 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $41,170
- Median hourly wage: $19.79
- Total employment: 1,160 people (11.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $41,060
- Median hourly wage: $19.74
- Total employment: 160 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $41,040
- Median hourly wage: $19.73
- Total employment: Not available

#44. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $40,650
- Median hourly wage: $19.54
- Total employment: 660 people (6.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $40,560
- Median hourly wage: $19.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Forest and conservation technicians

- Median annual wage: $40,390
- Median hourly wage: $19.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $39,790
- Median hourly wage: $19.13
- Total employment: 150 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $39,600
- Median hourly wage: $19.04
- Total employment: 80 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $39,320
- Median hourly wage: $18.91
- Total employment: 170 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,910
- Median hourly wage: $18.71
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $38,630
- Median hourly wage: $18.57
- Total employment: 1,480 people (14.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $38,500
- Median hourly wage: $18.51
- Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $38,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.49
- Total employment: 90 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $38,330
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Total employment: 320 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,230
- Median hourly wage: $18.38
- Total employment: 300 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $37,860
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 1,400 people (14.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,690
- Median hourly wage: $18.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $37,670
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 780 people (7.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $37,650
- Median hourly wage: $18.10
- Total employment: 210 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $37,520
- Median hourly wage: $18.04
- Total employment: 250 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $37,500
- Median hourly wage: $18.03
- Total employment: 440 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 250 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $37,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.94
- Total employment: Not available

#24. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $37,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.93
- Total employment: 3,050 people (30.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $37,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 700 people (7.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 310 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 670 people (6.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $36,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 210 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 2,320 people (23.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $36,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 220 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 170 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $36,780
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 120 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $36,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 2,540 people (25.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 500 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $36,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 410 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 410 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 590 people (5.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 320 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 1,800 people (18.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 120 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 500 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 170 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Material moving workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 650 people (6.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $33,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: Not available

#1. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $33,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 4,230 people (42.84 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