Lowest-paying jobs in Reading

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#50. Cooks, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Food cooking machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 830 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 440 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $35,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 380 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 1,510 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $35,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 1,050 people (6.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 350 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 110 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 530 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $32,300
- Median hourly wage: $15.53
- Total employment: 4,170 people (24.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $32,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 280 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $31,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,750 people (10.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 590 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 150 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 450 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 300 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 280 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 700 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 580 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 590 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 5,960 people (34.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 2,180 people (12.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 510 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 3,770 people (22.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 450 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 4,110 people (23.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 410 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 430 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 350 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $26,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $26,680
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 230 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $25,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.04
- Total employment: 1,010 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,340
- Median hourly wage: $11.22
- Total employment: 260 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $21,900
- Median hourly wage: $10.53
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Shampooers

- Median annual wage: $21,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.33
- 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