Lowest-paying jobs in Des Moines

Stacker
#50. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 730 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 5,620 people (13.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 1,720 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Ophthalmic laboratory technicians

- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 6,410 people (15.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Coaches and scouts (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 860 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Floral designers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: Not available

#40. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $33,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 1,150 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $33,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 360 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $33,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 490 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 5,010 people (12.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 430 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $32,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.79
- Total employment: 270 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 550 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $32,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $32,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 1,820 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $31,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 940 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 10,060 people (24.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 700 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 790 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 790 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 1,460 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Community and social service specialists, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 1,650 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $30,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 250 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 950 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 490 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 9,420 people (23.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 1,310 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 1,070 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 9,590 people (23.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 5,840 people (14.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 1,450 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $26,520
- Median hourly wage: $12.75
- Total employment: 270 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $25,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.40
- Total employment: 790 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $25,700
- Median hourly wage: $12.35
- Total employment: 320 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $23,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 2,020 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $22,790
- Median hourly wage: $10.96
- Total employment: 130 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $22,180
- Median hourly wage: $10.66
- Total employment: Not available

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