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The 10 Lowest Paying Jobs In Illinois For 2026

By Chris Kolmar
May. 17, 2019
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

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The 10 Lowest Paying Jobs in Illinois for 2026

Reflecting on my high school job at the local movie theater, I remember the joy of earning minimum wage while enjoying free popcorn and movies. Back then, making $5.86 an hour seemed sufficient, but today’s living standards make that seem unimaginable.

This nostalgia got me curious about who currently earns the least in Illinois.

Building on our analysis of the highest paying jobs in Illinois, we utilized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to pinpoint the lowest paying jobs in the state.

Our research reveals that Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers rank as the lowest paid positions in Illinois.

Here’s a quick overview of the 10 lowest paying jobs in Illinois:

  1. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
  2. Cooks, Fast Food
  3. Shampooers
  4. Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
  5. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
  6. Waiters and Waitresses
  7. Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
  8. Cashiers
  9. Dishwashers
  10. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

For further insights into the pay scales of low-wage jobs, continue reading or explore additional resources about the Illinois job market:

How We Determined the Lowest Paid Jobs in Illinois

We analyzed the BLS dataset, considering all job classifications in Illinois to identify the positions that offer the lowest salaries.

We will update this data annually as new statistics become available from the BLS. The most recent data is current as of May 2026.

For more insights, check out:

Detailed List of the Lowest Paying Jobs in Illinois

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers $21,340 $18,100 22,780
2 Cooks, Fast Food $21,690 $18,090 18,120
3 Shampooers $22,110 $18,140 830
4 Combined Food Preparation And Serving Workers, Including Fast Food $22,240 $18,430 144,260
5 Pressers, Textile, Garment, And Related Materials $22,530 $18,980 740
6 Waiters And Waitresses $22,900 $17,990 83,910
7 Ushers, Lobby Attendants, And Ticket Takers $22,990 $18,240 5,540
8 Cashiers $23,380 $18,570 143,230
9 Dishwashers $23,430 $18,560 19,730
10 Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop $23,560 $18,590 14,240
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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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