Not all jobs pay equally, and some of the hardest, most essential roles are shockingly underpaid. While we often associate demanding work with higher compensation, that’s not always the case. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 12 jobs that might surprise you with how little they actually pay, despite the skills, effort, or risks involved.
1. Teachers
You may think that teachers get paid well for educating our youth, but that isn’t always true. Depending on what state you live in, teachers may be underpaid. The national average pay is just under $70,000. But adjusted for inflation, on average, teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago. West Virginia, South Dakota, and Florida all pay their teachers just over $50,000.
2. Home Health Aide
The national average annual salary for a Home Health Aide (HHA) is around $33,000. This number can vary based on location and experience. However, considering how demanding this job can be many HHAs are underpaid.
3. Retail Associate
Retailer workers have a very physical job where they are on their feet for long periods of time. In addition to the physical demands of the job, retail associates often have a demanding schedule including weekends and holidays. Some retail jobs only pay minimum wage. Other roles use a commission structure. But as brick-and-mortar store sales have decreased, many retail workers on commission make much less money than they used to.
4. Janitor
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $23.76 and as low as $9.92 for janitors. Janitors often work night shifts and have very physically demanding jobs.
5. Chef
You may think that all chefs get paid well, but some kitchen jobs are underpaid. Line cooks for example make around $35,000 per year. Line cooks in some parts of California make the most money, while line cooks in small towns or rural areas make the least.
6. Waiter
Since waiters rely on tips, some are very underpaid. The national average salary for waiters and waitresses in the United States is around $32,000. This includes both the base salary and tips.
7. Journalist
You would think that since many journalists have college or master’s degrees that they would be paid well. In reality, many journalists struggle to make a living wage. Smaller market areas usually pay less than bigger cities. However, getting a job in a larger market or for a national publication is very competitive. The national average salary is around $60,000, but entry-level journalists make around $38,000.
8. Customer Service Agent
A customer service agent makes about $20 per hour. Agents usually have a stressful job and have to deal with many unhappy customers a day. Considering how important their job is to provide a good customer experience, this role is usually underpaid.
9. Firefighter
Firefighters risk their lives for their job and yet many are underpaid. In some areas, firefighters are only volunteers. The average national salary for a firefighter in 2025 is around $59,000. In Florida, firefighters only make $44,000 per year.
10. Corrections Officer
The national average salary for correctional officers was $54,000 in April 2025 according to ZipRecruiter. Considering the riskiness of this job, some would say that it is underpaid.
11. Housekeeper
The national average salary for a housekeeper in the United States is around $33,000 per year. Many housekeepers have to purchase their own supplies and their work is very taxing.
12. Mayors
While mayors of larger cities typically get paid well, small-town mayors often don’t receive a salary. Some only make a small stipend for the year. Since they still have to make tough decisions for their town, this role may be underpaid in some communities.
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Teri Monroe
Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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