StackerStacker delivers entertainment, travel, sports, finance, lifestyle, and news stories in an easy-to-read slideshow format, all driven by expert research, data analysis and editorial insight on some of the important and entertaining topics in the news todayen-ushttps://stacker.com/c1fe13e3-445e-4049-b716-9dae4682453aLowest-paying jobs in RochesterMon, 16 Jun 2025 21:12:39 -0400Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:12:39 -0400https://stacker.com/stories/new-york/rochesterny/lowest-paying-jobs-rochesterStackerStackerStacker ranked the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Rochester, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2024.

]]>Lowest-paying jobs in RochesterJacob Lund // ShutterstockUncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.

However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.

With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.

Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.

It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Rochester. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

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]]>2461402461401#49. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers (tie)shocky // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 170 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#49. Cooks, restaurant (tie)Paolo Bona // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 3,220 people (6.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakersORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.71
- Total employment: 350 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#47. Machine feeders and offbearersSGr // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.58
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#46. Crossing guards and flaggersRoman Korotkov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 390 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#45. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shopDragon Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 990 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#44. Couriers and messengersLeika production // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 350 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#42. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)DSBfoto // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 9,100 people (18.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#42. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)MAVV // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,190
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#40. Funeral attendants (tie)Krysja // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#40. Telemarketers (tie)Atstock Productions // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 250 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#39. Office machine operators, except computerChaay_Tee // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,150
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 130 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#38. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologistsPearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 810 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#37. Home health and personal care aidesPeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $36,030
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 15,780 people (32.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#36. BakersNomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#35. Parking attendantsMartin Smith // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 220 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#34. Shuttle drivers and chauffeursAfrica Studio // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#33. Recreation workersOksana Shufrych // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 1,300 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#32. Packers and packagers, handSviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 1,320 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#31. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materialsRobert Przybysz // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $35,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#30. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workersAndrey_Popov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 700 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#29. Sewing machine operatorsUfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 380 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#28. Maids and housekeeping cleanersRawpixel.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 1,780 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerksGabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 370 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#26. School bus monitorsRichard Thornton // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 1,370 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipmentNejron Photo // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 1,270 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#22. Passenger attendants (tie)kelvn // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#22. Taxi drivers (tie)Cameris // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#22. Aircraft service attendants (tie)aappp // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 80 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#21. Retail salespersonsMonkey Business Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 12,220 people (24.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#19. Food preparation workers (tie)DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 2,710 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#19. Animal caretakers (tie)Pressmaster // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 710 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#18. Food servers, nonrestaurantVGstockstudio // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 1,260 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#17. Baggage porters and bellhopsPressmaster // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#15. Cooks, fast food (tie)Alena Veasey // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 1,810 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#15. Library assistants, clerical (tie)Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 520 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondaryPaul.J.West // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 8,010 people (16.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpersaboutsung // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.18
- Total employment: 2,370 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#12. Childcare workersKrakenimages.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 2,180 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#11. CashiersDean Drobot // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 9,710 people (19.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#10. Educational instruction and library workers, all otherTyler Olson // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#9. Fast food and counter workersBlueSkyImage // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $33,130
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 11,290 people (23.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#8. Laundry and dry-cleaning workersDmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 610 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#7. Dishwasherswavebreakmedia // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 1,630 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#6. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takersTyler Olson // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 270 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#1. Manicurists and pedicurists (tie)Finist4 // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 610 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#1. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants (tie)Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#1. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 900 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#1. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)Virrage Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#1. Physical therapist aides (tie)PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 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.

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