Lowest-paying jobs in Chicago
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I get paid nothing,” then cozy up to your screen with a 15-cent pack of ramen noodles—you won’t want to miss this list.
Unemployment is at its lowest rate since 2000. But having a job, and having a job that pays a living wage, are not necessarily the same thing. So while 250,000 non-farm jobs were added to the U.S. economy in October, it’s a different dataset entirely to explore which of those jobs actually pay a living wage. How do things shake out in your hometown? To determine which jobs in the U.S. pay the lowest in Chicago, Stacker analyzed information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The data was collected in May 2017 and ranked by average annual salary, with ties being broken by average hourly wage. Aside from the cool fact that the occupation of hand-sewer still exists, the data provides interesting insights as to who truly should get to complain about their wages. Did your job make the list?
RELATED: Highest-paying jobs in Chicago
#25. Home health aides
Average annual salary: $24,180
Average hourly wage: $11.63
Total employment in Chicago: 29,040
#24. Waiters and waitresses
Average annual salary: $24,150
Average hourly wage: $11.61
Total employment in Chicago: 70,410
#23. Food processing workers, all other
Average annual salary: $24,100
Average hourly wage: $11.59
Total employment in Chicago: N/A
#22. Cooks, short order
Average annual salary: $24,090
Average hourly wage: $11.58
Total employment in Chicago: 4,700
#21. Food servers, non-restaurant
Average annual salary: $23,980
Average hourly wage: $11.53
Total employment in Chicago: 9,720
#20. Food preparation workers
Average annual salary: $23,980
Average hourly wage: $11.53
Total employment in Chicago: 26,230
#19. Transportation attendants, except flight attendants
Average annual salary: $23,690
Average hourly wage: $11.39
Total employment in Chicago: N/A
#18. Childcare workers
Average annual salary: $23,680
Average hourly wage: $11.38
Total employment in Chicago: 13,120
#17. Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
Average annual salary: $23,530
Average hourly wage: $11.31
Total employment in Chicago: 13,640
#16. Manicurists and pedicurists
Average annual salary: $23,110
Average hourly wage: $11.11
Total employment in Chicago: 4,380
#15. Personal care aides
Average annual salary: $22,970
Average hourly wage: $11.04
Total employment in Chicago: 42,970
#14. Dishwashers
Average annual salary: $22,970
Average hourly wage: $11.04
Total employment in Chicago: 12,920
#13. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
Average annual salary: $22,820
Average hourly wage: $10.97
Total employment in Chicago: 3,680
#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
Average annual salary: $22,760
Average hourly wage: $10.94
Total employment in Chicago: 6,450
#11. Food preparation and serving-related workers, all other
Average annual salary: $22,460
Average hourly wage: $10.80
Total employment in Chicago: N/A
#10. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
Average annual salary: $22,410
Average hourly wage: $10.78
Total employment in Chicago: 12,740
#9. Cashiers
Average annual salary: $22,360
Average hourly wage: $10.75
Total employment in Chicago: 96,630
#8. Cooks, fast food
Average annual salary: $21,700
Average hourly wage: $10.43
Total employment in Chicago: 10,950
#7. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other
Average annual salary: $21,580
Average hourly wage: $10.38
Total employment in Chicago: N/A
#6. Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
Average annual salary: $21,570
Average hourly wage: $10.37
Total employment in Chicago: 112,490
#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
Average annual salary: $21,440
Average hourly wage: $10.31
Total employment in Chicago: 21,060
#4. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
Average annual salary: $21,310
Average hourly wage: $10.25
Total employment in Chicago: 700
#3. Shampooers
Average annual salary: $21,110
Average hourly wage: $10.15
Total employment in Chicago: 590
#2. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
Average annual salary: $20,950
Average hourly wage: $10.07
Total employment in Chicago: 540
#1. Gaming gealers
Average annual salary: $20,840
Average hourly wage: $10.02
Total employment in Chicago: 1,930
