Lowest-paying jobs in Owensboro

Published 12:38 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

Lowest-paying jobs in Owensboro

The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there’s a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.

The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.

Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.

Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Owensboro, KY, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#50. Pharmacy technicians

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $34,130
– #268 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,970
– Employment: 436,630
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,340)
— Napa, CA ($58,620)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($58,390)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

#49. Highway maintenance workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $34,070
– #282 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $44,340
– Employment: 141,150
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,690)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,340)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,550)

Geraldshields11 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Labor relations specialists

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $33,480
– #182 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $77,070
– Employment: 63,810
– Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($104,620)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($98,470)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($97,520)

Needpix

#47. Food batchmakers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $33,450
– #159 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,190
– Employment: 155,240
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Battle Creek, MI ($65,310)
— Cedar Rapids, IA ($56,900)
— Binghamton, NY ($50,910)

Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos // Flickr

#46. Counter and rental clerks

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $33,110
– #204 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,170
– Employment: 371,620
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,760)
— Fairbanks, AK ($47,080)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,760)

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OLIVIER DOULIERY // Getty Images

#45. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $32,900
– #328 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 420

National
– Annual mean salary: $39,150
– Employment: 1,040,600
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,950)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,140)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($50,430)

Unsplash

#44. Library technicians

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $32,410
– #199 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $39,070
– Employment: 73,000
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
— Napa, CA ($57,890)

Pixabay

#43. Parts salespersons

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $32,040
– #311 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,920
– Employment: 265,130
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($48,330)
— Danville, IL ($48,080)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($47,620)

Canva

#41 (tie). Ophthalmic medical technicians

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $31,940
– #203 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,120
– Employment: 65,700
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Springfield, IL ($68,780)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($63,650)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($62,050)

Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#41 (tie). Medical assistants

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $31,940
– #328 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,190
– Employment: 727,760
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($58,670)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,930)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)

Canva

#40. Butchers and meat cutters

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– #263 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,670
– Employment: 145,930
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($50,570)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($50,510)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($48,490)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#39. Tellers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $31,190
– #305 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,930
– Employment: 364,210
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
— Napa, CA ($42,000)

Canva

#38. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $31,070
– #94 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,960
– Employment: 111,480
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
— Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)

fizkes // Shutterstock

#37. Order clerks

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $30,570
– #242 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,820
– Employment: 133,850
– Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bismarck, ND ($51,440)
— Trenton, NJ ($51,040)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($50,810)

viviandnguyen_ // Flickr

#36. Packers and packagers, hand

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $30,560
– #146 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,950
– Employment: 585,270
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
— Rome, GA ($38,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)

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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#35. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $30,180
– #290 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,250
– Employment: 118,670
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#34. Nursing assistants

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $30,090
– #240 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 600

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,250
– Employment: 1,314,830
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,690)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,500)
— Salinas, CA ($44,210)

The Boston Globe // Getty Images

#33. Stockers and order fillers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $29,770
– #262 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 860

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,020
– Employment: 2,451,430
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)

Canva

#32. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $29,710
– #327 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,240
– Employment: 892,450
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $29,670
– #165 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,550
– Employment: 351,960
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#30. Social and human service assistants

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $29,460
– #373 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,460
– Employment: 398,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
— Danbury, CT ($54,870)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)

Canva

#29. Tire repairers and changers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $29,240
– #247 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,520
– Employment: 93,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($44,520)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,370)

giocalde // Shutterstock

#28. Printing press operators

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $28,710
– #316 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,120
– Employment: 145,290
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($56,850)
— Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($51,730)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($50,370)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#27. Emergency medical technicians

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $28,660
– #250 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,690
– Employment: 161,400
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($63,500)
— Coeur d’Alene, ID ($59,020)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,770)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#26. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $28,600
– #202 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 490

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– Employment: 1,187,270
– Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

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New Africa // Shutterstock

#25. Receptionists and information clerks

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $28,450
– #308 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,910
– Employment: 983,150
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,680)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($41,290)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#24. Retail salespersons

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $28,240
– #302 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,490

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,920
– Employment: 3,693,490
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#23. Tutors

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $27,500
– #242 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,780
– Employment: 147,100
– Entry level education requirements: nan
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
— Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)

Canva

#22. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $27,460
– #287 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,520
– Employment: 392,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)

Jorge Royan // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Cooks, restaurant

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $26,710
– #307 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 490

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,630
– Employment: 1,193,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)

Sean Rayford // Getty Images

#20. Security guards

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $26,360
– #370 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 540

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,830
– Employment: 1,057,100
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)

Canva

#19. Food preparation workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $26,220
– #227 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $28,810
– Employment: 783,350
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#18. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $26,020
– #297 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,570
– Employment: 175,660
– Entry level education requirements: not available
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
— Napa, CA ($42,730)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)

Unsplash

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

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $25,990
– #319 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 880

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,860
– Employment: 2,036,680
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

#16. Residential advisors

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $25,830
– #258 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,950
– Employment: 92,500
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($50,560)
— Napa, CA ($48,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,210)

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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $25,810
– #235 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 350

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,580
– Employment: 723,430
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Driver/sales workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $25,350
– #347 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,970
– Employment: 477,020
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bismarck, ND ($48,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,390)
— Fargo, ND-MN ($46,360)

Ryan Everton // Unsplash

#13. Dishwashers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $24,550
– #177 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,350
– Employment: 377,040
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#12. Childcare workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $24,470
– #229 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,680
– Employment: 438,520
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
— Napa, CA ($36,850)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

#11. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $24,280
– #346 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,990
– Employment: 285,980
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($53,630)
— Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($53,470)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($52,630)

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Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#10. Animal caretakers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,810
– #355 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,520
– Employment: 225,680
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
— Salinas, CA ($37,420)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,800
– #264 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $28,040
– Employment: 220,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#8. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,760
– #297 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,830
– Employment: 157,400
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)

PxHere

#7. Library assistants, clerical

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,380
– #237 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,490
– Employment: 78,470
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,770)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,500)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($49,030)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#6. Cashiers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,250
– #284 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,220

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,780
– Employment: 3,335,170
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

#5. Recreation workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,160
– #380 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,020
– Employment: 264,020
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)

Crew // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Bartenders

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $23,050
– #340 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,340
– Employment: 485,330
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#3. Waiters and waitresses

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $22,720
– #301 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 670

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,010
– Employment: 1,804,030
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
— Ithaca, NY ($44,970)

Pxhere

#2. Fast food and counter workers

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $21,240
– #321 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 560

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,060
– Employment: 3,095,120
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)

Daniel Lee // Flickr

#1. Cooks, fast food

Owensboro, KY
– Annual mean salary: $19,850
– #306 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 990

National
– Annual mean salary: $25,490
– Employment: 768,130
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)

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