Low-wage jobs saw a strong annual boost in pay.
The 10 Jobs with the Fastest Pay Growth
With increases in the minimum wage across 21 states and Washington, D.C. in 2018, low-wage occupations experienced a boost in annual pay, according to a new study from Glassdoor. [1] Jobs that tend to pay less than $35,000 per year, such as bank tellers, cashiers and bartenders experienced significant gains.
Getting an additional $1,000 - $2,000 per year is a boon for lower-wage workers. This can contribute to an increase in consumer spending and support economic growth.
What occupations made the list? Click or swipe through to find out the jobs offering the highest year-over-year growth...
1. Bank Teller
Bank tellers work with a bank’s customers, helping them with account questions, deposits, and withdrawals. The job requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and experience working with cash. Most banks train employees on the job for this position.
- Median Base Pay: $31,725
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 6.8 percent
2. Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians help fill prescriptions for customers and health professionals. Duties include measuring, mixing, counting out, labeling, and recording medication amounts and dosages under the direction of a pharmacist. Becoming a technician requires completing a program in pharmacy technology and having a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Median Base Pay: $31,167
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 6.5 percent
3. Bartender
Bartenders work in restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, and other places that serve alcohol. They mix drinks and either serve them to customers or hand them off to wait staff. Skills can be learned on the job or through a bartending course. Bartenders are required to be at least 18 years of age in most states.
- Median Base Pay: $33,209
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 6.4 percent
4. Cashier
Cashiers scan customer purchases and process payments for grocery stores, department stores, gas stations, and other retail establishments. There is no formal education required, and most cashiers get trained on the job.
- Median Base Pay: $28,166
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 5.2 percent
5. Truck Driver
There is a shortage of truck drivers and a training barrier to entry. [2] Since most goods need to be transported, a lack of drivers could force prices for goods to increase. With a median base pay of $55,435 and an annual increase of more than 5 percent, this can be a lucrative job that doesn’t require a college degree.
- Median Base Pay: $55,435
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 5.1 percent
6. Maintenance Worker
Maintenance workers fix mechanical equipment and buildings. They may work in a building such as a hotel or a hospital, or handle the maintenance for a larger area such as an apartment complex. Most jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent. Workers usually learn skills on the job.
- Median Base Pay: $41,013
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 4.1 percent
7. Security Officer
Security officers keep an area safe from theft, violence, or other illegal activity. They work in a variety of places including parking lots, businesses, courthouses, retail stores, and office buildings. Most jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent and may necessitate additional training.
- Median Base Pay: $35,293
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 3.7 percent
8. Office Manager
Office managers run the day-to-day logistics for a business or organization. Responsibilities vary but can include answering phones, responding to company emails, scheduling meetings, maintaining the office, and ordering supplies. While education requirements vary, applicants need to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and most times - a bachelor’s degree.
- Median Base Pay: $47,479
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 3.6 percent
9. Material Handler
Material handlers maintain product inventories and move materials and supplies. They may operate machines, work in warehouses, clean vehicles, and pack materials. There is no educational requirement to become a material handler, although employers require workers to be physically able to perform the job.
- Median Base Pay: $37,123
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 3.5 percent
10. Property Manager
Property managers take care of properties, advertise and fill vacancies, collect rent, and negotiate and enforce leases. They work for apartment complexes, office buildings, and property rental agencies. Applicants need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and several years of related work experience, although employers may prefer college graduates.
- Median Base Pay: $52,490
- Year-Over-Year Increase: 3.2 percent
This article by Veneta Lusk was originally published on Debt.com.
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Published by Debt.com, LLC
