Lowest-paying jobs in Bowling Green

Published 7:35 pm Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Lowest-paying jobs in Bowling Green

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.

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


LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#50. Emergency medical technicians

– Median annual wage: $30,360
– Median hourly wage: $14.60
– Total employment: 120 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

#49. Highway maintenance workers

– Median annual wage: $30,290
– Median hourly wage: $14.56
– Total employment: 110 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#48. Tellers

– Median annual wage: $30,220
– Median hourly wage: $14.53
– Total employment: 200 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

– Median annual wage: $30,110
– Median hourly wage: $14.48
– Total employment: 700 people (9.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#46. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

– Median annual wage: $30,100
– Median hourly wage: $14.47
– Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

#45. Correctional officers and jailers

– Median annual wage: $30,030
– Median hourly wage: $14.44
– Total employment: 190 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#44. Packers and packagers, hand

– Median annual wage: $29,920
– Median hourly wage: $14.38
– Total employment: 630 people (8.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#43. Helpers–production workers

– Median annual wage: $29,370
– Median hourly wage: $14.12
– Total employment: 250 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

#42. Healthcare support workers, all other

– Median annual wage: $29,290
– Median hourly wage: $14.08
– Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#41. Butchers and meat cutters

– Median annual wage: $29,110
– Median hourly wage: $13.99
– Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#40. Food servers, nonrestaurant

– Median annual wage: $29,080
– Median hourly wage: $13.98
– Total employment: 90 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#39. Veterinary technologists and technicians

– Median annual wage: $28,860
– Median hourly wage: $13.87
– Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#38. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

– Median annual wage: $28,800
– Median hourly wage: $13.85
– Total employment: 350 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#37. Cooks, restaurant

– Median annual wage: $28,650
– Median hourly wage: $13.77
– Total employment: 620 people (8.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#36. Receptionists and information clerks

– Median annual wage: $28,220
– Median hourly wage: $13.57
– Total employment: 570 people (7.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#35. Library technicians

– Median annual wage: $27,920
– Median hourly wage: $13.42
– Total employment: 70 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

#34. Ophthalmic medical technicians

– Median annual wage: $27,850
– Median hourly wage: $13.39
– Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#33. Home health and personal care aides

– Median annual wage: $27,780
– Median hourly wage: $13.35
– Total employment: 1,230 people (16.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#32. Pest control workers

– Median annual wage: $27,760
– Median hourly wage: $13.35
– Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#31. Tire repairers and changers

– Median annual wage: $27,750
– Median hourly wage: $13.34
– Total employment: 60 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#30. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

– Median annual wage: $27,720
– Median hourly wage: $13.33
– Total employment: 120 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#29. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

– Median annual wage: $27,400
– Median hourly wage: $13.17
– Total employment: 550 people (7.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#28. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

– Median annual wage: $27,330
– Median hourly wage: Not available
– Total employment: 480 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#27. Teachers and instructors, all other

– Median annual wage: $27,160
– Median hourly wage: Not available
– Total employment: 220 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#26. Security guards

– Median annual wage: $27,100
– Median hourly wage: $13.03
– Total employment: 420 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#25. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

– Median annual wage: $27,030
– Median hourly wage: $13.00
– Total employment: 70 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#24. Bakers

– Median annual wage: $26,940
– Median hourly wage: $12.95
– Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#23. Driver/sales workers

– Median annual wage: $26,780
– Median hourly wage: $12.87
– Total employment: 430 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#22. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

– Median annual wage: $25,930
– Median hourly wage: $12.47
– Total employment: 220 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#21. Animal caretakers

– Median annual wage: $25,820
– Median hourly wage: $12.41
– Total employment: 150 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Retail salespersons

– Median annual wage: $25,590
– Median hourly wage: $12.30
– Total employment: 2,240 people (29.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

#19. Residential advisors

– Median annual wage: $25,570
– Median hourly wage: $12.29
– Total employment: 80 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

#18. Self-enrichment teachers

– Median annual wage: $25,470
– Median hourly wage: $12.24
– Total employment: 80 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

– Median annual wage: $25,090
– Median hourly wage: $12.06
– Total employment: 500 people (6.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#16. Food preparation workers

– Median annual wage: $24,260
– Median hourly wage: $11.66
– Total employment: 380 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

– Median annual wage: $23,900
– Median hourly wage: $11.49
– Total employment: 160 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $23,680
– Median hourly wage: $11.38
– Total employment: 250 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#13. Bartenders

– Median annual wage: $23,480
– Median hourly wage: $11.29
– Total employment: 170 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#12. Cashiers

– Median annual wage: $23,350
– Median hourly wage: $11.23
– Total employment: 1,870 people (24.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#11. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

– Median annual wage: $23,200
– Median hourly wage: $11.16
– Total employment: 110 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

#10. Recreation workers

– Median annual wage: $23,140
– Median hourly wage: $11.13
– Total employment: 120 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

– Median annual wage: $23,130
– Median hourly wage: $11.12
– Total employment: 160 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#8. Childcare workers

– Median annual wage: $23,090
– Median hourly wage: $11.10
– Total employment: 400 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#7. Dishwashers

– Median annual wage: $23,020
– Median hourly wage: $11.07
– Total employment: 170 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

#6. Fast food and counter workers

– Median annual wage: $22,820
– Median hourly wage: $10.97
– Total employment: 1,190 people (15.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

– Median annual wage: $22,350
– Median hourly wage: $10.75
– Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#4. Library assistants, clerical

– Median annual wage: $22,170
– Median hourly wage: $10.66
– Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

#3. Cooks, fast food

– Median annual wage: $21,680
– Median hourly wage: $10.42
– Total employment: 1,790 people (23.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#2. Waiters and waitresses

– Median annual wage: $20,600
– Median hourly wage: $9.90
– Total employment: 1,040 people (13.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

#1. Amusement and recreation attendants

– Median annual wage: $19,130
– Median hourly wage: $9.20
– Total employment: 120 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)