Lowest-paying jobs in Chicago

Stacker
#50. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 530 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $36,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 10,890 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $35,780
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 5,920 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $35,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 460 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 450 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 4,420 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 500 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $35,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 3,690 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Slaughterers and meat packers

- Median annual wage: $35,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 1,840 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $35,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 12,720 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 3,370 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.08
- Total employment: 630 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 5,090 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 9,190 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 220 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 8,210 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 24,090 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 2,950 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Photographers

- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 1,970 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 102,320 people (22.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 10,440 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 710 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $34,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 1,390 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $34,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 2,150 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Gambling and sports book writers and runners

- Median annual wage: $34,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 8,980 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 780 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Choreographers

- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: Not available

#21. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $34,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 16,910 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 12,260 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $34,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 860 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Sewers, hand

- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: Not available

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

- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 4,730 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 2,660 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 82,020 people (18.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $33,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 104,270 people (23.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $31,780
- Median hourly wage: $15.28
- Total employment: 11,460 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 9,960 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,350
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 9,350 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 3,400 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Gambling dealers

- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 1,950 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 17,270 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Shampooers

- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 450 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: Not available

#1. Bartenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 27,310 people (6.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Waiters and waitresses (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 64,010 people (14.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Passenger attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 760 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Telemarketers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 1,700 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Helpers--electricians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 290 people (0.06 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