25 Lowest Paying Jobs in Louisiana

Money. You kind of need it to live.

While we all seem to be striving to make more of it, in this tough economic climate, it's a blessing sometimes to just have a job.

If you're an average wage-earner in Louisiana, you make $41,260 per year. But folks with the state's lowest-paying jobs make a lot less than that.

Below is the list of the 25 lowest-paying jobs in the state according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1) Waiter and waitress
Median annual pay:$17,920
Average annual pay: $18,390
Number in Louisiana: 38,810

2) Food preparation worker
Median annual pay: $18,110
Average annual pay: $18,260
Number in Louisiana: 33,090

3) Gaming dealer
Median annual pay: $18,110
Average annual pay: $18,710
Number in Louisiana: 3,220

4) Restaurant, lounge or coffee shop host and hostess
Median annual pay: $18,200
Average annual pay: $18,600
Number in Louisiana: 5,490

5) Dishwasher
Median annual pay: $18,280
Average annual pay: $18,380
Number in Louisiana: 5,380

6) Personal care aide
Median annual pay: $18,280
Average annual pay: $18,580
Number in Louisiana: 33,410

7) Lifeguard and recreational protective service worker
Median annual pay: $18,290
Average annual pay: $19,610
Number in Louisiana: 920

8) Dining room or cafeteria attendant, bartender helper
Median annual pay: $18,430
Average annual pay: $18,840
Number in Louisiana: 7,380

9) Cook at fast food restaurant
Median annual pay: $18,440
Average annual pay: $18,530
Number in Louisiana: 5,910

10) Cashier
Median annual pay: $18,450
Average annual pay: $19,010
Number in Louisiana: 71,140

11) Child care worker
Median annual pay: $18,520
Average annual pay: $19,270
Number in Louisiana: 8,210

12) Counter attendant at a cafeteria, coffee shop or food concession
Median annual pay: $18,560
Average annual pay: $19,180
Number in Louisiana: 4,900

13) Non-restaurant food server
Median annual pay: $18,590
Average annual pay: $19,430
Number in Louisiana: 3,870

14) Bartender
Median annual pay: $18,690
Average annual pay: $19,640
Number in Louisiana: 9,190

15) State and local legislators
Median annual pay: $18,730
Average annual pay: $25,290
Number in Louisiana: 750

16) Maid and housekeeping cleaner
Median annual pay: $18,770
Average annual pay: $19,500
Number in Louisiana: 15,100

17) Laundry and dry cleaning worker
Median annual pay: $18,860
Average annual pay: $19,810
Number in Louisiana: 3,280

18) Cafeteria cook
Median annual pay: $18,970
Average annual pay: $20,410
Number in Louisiana: 5,510

19) Home health aide
Median annual pay: $18,990
Average annual pay: $19,820
Number in Louisiana: 8,310

20) School bus driver
Median annual pay: $19,010
Average annual pay: $20,360
Number in Louisiana: 8,230

21) Shampooer
Median annual pay: $19,030
Average annual pay: $19,260
Number in Louisiana: 140

22) Usher, lobby attendant or ticket taker
Median annual pay: $19,030
Average annual pay: $19,860
Number in Louisiana: 2,080

23) Amusement and recreation attendant
Median annual pay: $19,060
Average annual pay: $20,440
Number in Louisiana: 1,860

24) Baggage porter and bellhop
Median annual pay: $19,090
Average annual pay: $21,190
Number in Louisiana: 480

25) Social sciences research assistant
Median annual pay: $19,090
Average annual pay: $37,790
Number in Louisiana: 90