Lowest-paying jobs in McAllen

Stacker
#50. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 470 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 260 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Photographers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Protective service workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 570 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 180 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 2,400 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Agricultural equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 140 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 700 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 470 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 250 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $27,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 2,390 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 400 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $26,920
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $26,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 740 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 130 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 8,950 people (30.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $26,540
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 970 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $26,280
- Median hourly wage: $12.64
- Total employment: 360 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $25,610
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $25,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,840 people (13.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $25,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $24,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.93
- Total employment: 110 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: 470 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,540
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $24,400
- Median hourly wage: $11.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $24,270
- Median hourly wage: $11.67
- Total employment: 7,080 people (24.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $24,250
- Median hourly wage: $11.66
- Total employment: 540 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $23,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $23,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 3,240 people (11.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $23,550
- Median hourly wage: $11.32
- Total employment: 410 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $23,520
- Median hourly wage: $11.31
- Total employment: 680 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $23,210
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 42,650 people (146.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $22,970
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 980 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $22,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.01
- Total employment: 3,740 people (12.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $22,690
- Median hourly wage: $10.91
- Total employment: 10,070 people (34.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $22,440
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 630 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $22,320
- Median hourly wage: $10.73
- Total employment: 910 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $21,960
- Median hourly wage: $10.56
- Total employment: 330 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $21,350
- Median hourly wage: $10.26
- Total employment: 1,010 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $21,000
- Median hourly wage: $10.10
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $18,290
- Median hourly wage: $8.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 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