Lowest-paying jobs in McAllen

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.

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 McAllen. 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.

Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock

#50. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#49. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 470 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#48. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 260 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#46. Photographers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VH-studio // Shutterstock

#46. Protective service workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 570 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suteren // Shutterstock

#45. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#44. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

#43. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 180 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#42. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 2,400 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

#41. Agricultural equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 140 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

#40. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 700 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

#39. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

#38. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#37. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 470 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $27,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 250 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

encierro // Shutterstock

#35. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#34. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $27,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 2,390 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

#33. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 400 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

#32. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#31. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $26,920
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

#30. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $26,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 740 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#29. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 130 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#28. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 8,950 people (30.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $26,540
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 970 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $26,280
- Median hourly wage: $12.64
- Total employment: 360 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kuznetsov Dmitriy // Shutterstock

#24. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $25,610
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#23. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $25,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,840 people (13.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

#22. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $25,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $24,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.93
- Total employment: 110 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

#20. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: 470 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

#19. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,540
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

#18. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $24,400
- Median hourly wage: $11.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#17. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $24,270
- Median hourly wage: $11.67
- Total employment: 7,080 people (24.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#16. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $24,250
- Median hourly wage: $11.66
- Total employment: 540 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

#15. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $23,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#14. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $23,810
- Median hourly wage: $11.45
- Total employment: 3,240 people (11.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

#13. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $23,550
- Median hourly wage: $11.32
- Total employment: 410 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#12. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $23,520
- Median hourly wage: $11.31
- Total employment: 680 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

#11. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $23,210
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#10. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 42,650 people (146.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

#9. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $22,970
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 980 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $22,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.01
- Total employment: 3,740 people (12.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $22,690
- Median hourly wage: $10.91
- Total employment: 10,070 people (34.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $22,440
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 630 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $22,320
- Median hourly wage: $10.73
- Total employment: 910 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $21,960
- Median hourly wage: $10.56
- Total employment: 330 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#3. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $21,350
- Median hourly wage: $10.26
- Total employment: 1,010 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#2. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $21,000
- Median hourly wage: $10.10
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $18,290
- Median hourly wage: $8.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 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.