Lowest-paying jobs in Topeka

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Topeka. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but financial inequality prevails within its borders. That divide is growing, especially between the poorest and richest U.S. residents.

The middle class is shrinking. In 2021, just half of adults lived in a middle-income household, a huge drop from 61% in the 70s. This dip meant some middle-class adults broke into the high-income bracket. At the same time, the share of lower-income residents is growing: 29% of adults lived in low-income households in 2021, compared to 25% in 1971.

Wages over this period grew at all income levels, but the rich got significantly higher bumps. Pew Charitable Trusts found that high incomes grew 69% over the past 50 years, while low incomes grew just 45%. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and further exposed these harsh financial gaps.

The difference in pay for the highest- and lowest-paying jobs in the U.S. last year was over eightfold: from about $28,000 for entertainment attendants to over $251,000 for physicians. Nationally, most of the lowest-paying jobs are in the leisure and accommodation fields: think folks who work in food establishments, at hotels, at recreational facilities like pools and amusement parks, and other service jobs.

#50. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 120 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#49. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $31,350
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 640 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#48. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $31,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 2,320 people (20.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#47. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 400 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#46. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Slaughterers and meat packers

- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 90 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#44. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 100 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#43. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $30,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 670 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#42. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Security guards (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 430 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Helpers--production workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 380 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Undrey // Shutterstock

#39. Data entry keyers

- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 280 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#38. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

#37. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $30,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 140 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#36. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,720
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 600 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#35. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#34. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#33. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 170 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#32. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,500 people (13.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

#31. Office machine operators, except computer

- Median annual wage: $29,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock

#30. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 430 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 440 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#28. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 340 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#26. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 2,000 people (18.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 830 people (7.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#24. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 580 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#23. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 340 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 1,650 people (14.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#21. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 720 people (6.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#20. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,830
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 690 people (6.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Waiters and waitresses (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,830
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 1,310 people (11.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#17. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $26,530
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 520 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $26,230
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#14. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $25,480
- Median hourly wage: $12.25
- Total employment: 160 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#13. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $25,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.21
- Total employment: 3,180 people (28.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $24,170
- Median hourly wage: $11.62
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#11. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $24,170
- Median hourly wage: $11.62
- Total employment: 2,510 people (22.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

#10. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $23,010
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 2,530 people (22.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#9. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $22,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.03
- Total employment: 120 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $22,480
- Median hourly wage: $10.81
- Total employment: 190 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#7. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $21,940
- Median hourly wage: $10.55
- Total employment: 240 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $21,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.33
- Total employment: 220 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#5. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $21,170
- Median hourly wage: $10.18
- Total employment: 230 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $21,080
- Median hourly wage: $10.13
- Total employment: 350 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#3. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $20,850
- Median hourly wage: $10.03
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $18,960
- Median hourly wage: $9.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

#1. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $18,560
- Median hourly wage: $8.92
- Total employment: 320 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)