Uncertainty 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.

#48. Stockers and order fillers

#47. Counter and rental clerks

#46. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

#45. Production workers, all other

#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

#43. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

#42. Social and human service assistants

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

#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

#37. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

#35. Packers and packagers, hand

#33. Security guards

#32. Receptionists and information clerks

#31. Butchers and meat cutters

#30. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

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

#27. Home health and personal care aides

#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

#23. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

#17. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

#16. Substitute teachers, short-term

#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

#13. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

#11. Retail salespersons

#10. Preschool teachers, except special education

#5. Fast food and counter workers

#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.