Lowest-paying jobs in Santa Maria

Stacker
#50. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $38,860
- Median hourly wage: $18.68
- Total employment: 170 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $38,770
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 2,190 people (10.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $38,750
- Median hourly wage: $18.63
- Total employment: 290 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 780 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $38,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

- Median annual wage: $38,300
- Median hourly wage: $18.41
- Total employment: 70 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

- Median annual wage: $37,680
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 60 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $37,610
- Median hourly wage: $18.08
- Total employment: 350 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $37,600
- Median hourly wage: $18.08
- Total employment: 360 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $37,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 2,890 people (14.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,530
- Median hourly wage: $18.04
- Total employment: 1,800 people (8.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Stockers and order fillers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,530
- Median hourly wage: $18.04
- Total employment: 2,440 people (12.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Food preparation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 1,390 people (6.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 650 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $37,150
- Median hourly wage: $17.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $37,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 640 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $37,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 340 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $37,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 1,610 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $36,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 5,870 people (29.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $36,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 360 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $36,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $36,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 160 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $36,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.71
- Total employment: 400 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $36,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.65
- Total employment: 11,720 people (58.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.65
- Total employment: 390 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $36,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.58
- Total employment: 110 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 4,160 people (20.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $36,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 360 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Dishwashers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 1,200 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $36,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 440 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $36,210
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 910 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Baggage porters and bellhops (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 170 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $36,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 440 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 4,420 people (21.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Material moving workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 110 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 650 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 310 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $34,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 190 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 1,220 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 670 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $34,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 3,710 people (18.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 130 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $34,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 1,440 people (7.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $33,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.13
- Total employment: 5,710 people (28.3 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