For over a year from mid-2019 to late 2020, Job-Applications.com compiled survey responses from our users related to searching for service industry jobs in various locations across the United States, along with expected pay rates and wages workers would accept.
Just over 1,800 job seekers participated in our job census survey.
Survey Questions
1. In your experience, what do most jobs you are searching for pay ($/hour)?
Survey average: $11.27 / hour
2. What is the minimum hourly wage you would accept ($/hour)?
Survey average: $10.13 / hour
3. How long do you anticipate it will take you to find a suitable job?
14% of respondents said “about a day.”
46% of respondents said “about a week.”
31% of respondents said “about a month.”
9% of respondents said “about a year.”
4. Would you consider moving to obtain a decent-paying job?
40% of respondents said “yes”.
60% of respondents said “no”.
5. How long were you employed at your last job?
57% of respondents said “less than a year.”
23% of respondents said “1 to 3 years.”
7% of respondents said “4 to 6 years.”
4% of respondents said “7 to 10 years.”
9% of respondents said “over 10 years.”
Geographic Breakdown
Federal Minimum Wage: $7.25 per hour
National Average Expected Wage: $11.27 per hour
Highest Expected Wages
District of Columbia – $17.50 per hour
Washington – $14.58 per hour
New York – $13.99 per hour
California – $13.92 per hour
Colorado – $13.33 per hour
Lowest Expected Wages
Montana – $8.25 per hour
Mississippi – $9.04 per hour
Idaho – $9.35 per hour
Kansas – $9.68 per hour
Kentucky – $9.79 per hour
Relocation for Better Pay
40% of our poll respondents said they would consider moving to obtain a higher-paying job.
More than half of survey takers from five states — Alabama (61%), Arkansas (53%), Colorado (52%), Indiana (53%), and Mississippi (60%) — disclosed they would consider moving to gain better-paying employment.
Full Survey Results
View the full results here.
