Every year the US Census Bureau contacts over 3.5 million households across the country to participate in the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS generates all sorts of useful information for government officials, businesses, and individuals, especially for planning purposes. Just last month, the Census Bureau released a treasure trove of ACS data on over 500 occupations, including the median annual incomes for full-time workers in these occupations. Without further ado, here are the occupations with median annual incomes of less than $30,000 (about $14 an hour):
These aren't necessarily occupations to avoid; they may be good starter jobs. An occupation that doesn't pay well may still be a good stepping stone to bigger and better things. But some people do get stuck in them, for lack of skills to qualify for anything better. My problem-solving mission is to figure out ways to help those who are stuck at the bottom to acquire the skills to move up in the world.
Next: Back to my proposed affordable basic income scheme to help people become unstuck.
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* Median income means half the people in the occupation earn more and half earn less.