Lowest-paying jobs in Ames

Stacker
#50. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $38,650
- Median hourly wage: $18.58
- Total employment: 160 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $38,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 600 people (10.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $38,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.51
- Total employment: 180 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

- Median annual wage: $37,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.18
- Total employment: Not available

#46. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $37,510
- Median hourly wage: $18.03
- Total employment: 170 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $37,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 160 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $37,050
- Median hourly wage: $17.81
- Total employment: 220 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $37,000
- Median hourly wage: $17.79
- Total employment: 200 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Phlebotomists

- Median annual wage: $36,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. First-line supervisors of personal service workers

- Median annual wage: $36,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 640 people (11.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 1,120 people (19.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 350 people (6.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 150 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $34,880
- Median hourly wage: $16.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $34,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 980 people (17.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 90 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 60 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $33,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: Not available

#28. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 100 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $32,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 170 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 160 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Coaches and scouts

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $30,540
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 70 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 170 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 140 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 90 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 1,350 people (24.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 270 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 160 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 210 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 90 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 260 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,540 people (27.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 170 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 800 people (14.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 240 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $28,890
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 1,490 people (26.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 980 people (17.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 130 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 200 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 160 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $26,140
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 100 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $25,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.28
- Total employment: 90 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $23,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $22,610
- Median hourly wage: $10.87
- Total employment: 410 people (7.35 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