Lowest-paying jobs in Topeka

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#50. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,270
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 230 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $36,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 730 people (6.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $35,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 350 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 260 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $35,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 150 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $34,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 560 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $34,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 70 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Data entry keyers

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 180 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 200 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 1,370 people (12.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $31,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $31,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 530 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 1,300 people (11.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $31,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $30,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 820 people (7.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 1,840 people (16.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,520 people (13.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 550 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 3,070 people (27.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 720 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 170 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 670 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 170 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $29,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 120 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 620 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 610 people (5.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 170 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 340 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 150 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 220 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $27,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 200 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 2,540 people (22.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 3,220 people (28.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $26,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 510 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $26,830
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 270 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $26,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 190 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $23,870
- Median hourly wage: $11.48
- Total employment: 240 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $23,590
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 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