StackerStacker delivers entertainment, travel, sports, finance, lifestyle, and news stories in an easy-to-read slideshow format, all driven by expert research, data analysis and editorial insight on some of the important and entertaining topics in the news todayen-ushttps://stacker.com/63bfb63a-204b-4720-9672-bdfa24b59c0fLowest-paying jobs in KnoxvilleTue, 01 Aug 2023 15:35:03 -0400Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:35:03 -0400https://stacker.com/stories/tennessee/knoxville/lowest-paying-jobs-knoxvilleStackerStackerStacker ranked the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Knoxville, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2024.

]]>Lowest-paying jobs in KnoxvilleJacob Lund // ShutterstockUncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.

However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.

With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.

Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.

It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Knoxville. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

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]]>2461402461401#50. Residential advisorsVasin Lee // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 460 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#49. Packers and packagers, handSviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 1,410 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#48. Recreation workersOksana Shufrych // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 410 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#47. Laundry and dry-cleaning workersDmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 600 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#46. Switchboard operators, including answering serviceAnucha Cheechang // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 110 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#44. Baggage porters and bellhops (tie)Pressmaster // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#44. Library assistants, clerical (tie)Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteriaDrazen Zigic // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#42. Food preparation workersDenisProduction.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 3,060 people (7.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#41. BakersNomad_Soul // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 580 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#40. Manicurists and pedicuristsFinist4 // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#39. Physical therapist aidesPeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 150 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#38. Shuttle drivers and chauffeursAfrica Studio // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 280 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#36. Retail salespersons (tie)Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 11,980 people (28.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#36. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)Virrage Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 270 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#35. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmersshocky // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#34. Dishwasherswavebreakmedia // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#33. Animal caretakersPressmaster // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $30,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 960 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#32. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouseMAVV // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 220 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#31. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical techniciansAlexander Oganezov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#30. Home health and personal care aidesPeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 5,340 people (12.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#29. Sewing machine operatorsUfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 430 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#28. Automotive and watercraft service attendantsOlena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 490 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#27. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleanersDSBfoto // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 6,910 people (16.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#26. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpersaboutsung // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 1,710 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#25. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologistsPearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 850 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#24. Childcare workersKrakenimages.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,820 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#23. Agricultural workers, all othermaxbelchenko // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#22. ConciergesFlamingo Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#21. Maids and housekeeping cleanersRawpixel.com // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 2,250 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerksGabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 870 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#19. Cooks, short orderJason Person // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 270 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#18. Food servers, nonrestaurantVGstockstudio // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 610 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#17. Waiters and waitressesMonkey Business Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 7,410 people (17.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#16. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shopDragon Images // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 1,540 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#15. CashiersDean Drobot // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 9,140 people (21.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#14. Fast food and counter workersBlueSkyImage // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 11,200 people (26.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#13. Parking attendantsMartin Smith // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#12. Personal care and service workers, all otherMotortion Films // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 130 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#11. Food preparation and serving related workers, all otherNature's Charm // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 270 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#10. School bus monitorsRichard Thornton // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#9. Cooks, fast foodAlena Veasey // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $26,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 2,890 people (6.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#8. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workersAndrey_Popov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $25,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.19
- Total employment: 220 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#7. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all otherALPA PROD // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $25,160
- Median hourly wage: $12.10
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#6. Amusement and recreation attendantsAlexander Oganezov // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $23,630
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 660 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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]]>2461402461401#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondaryPaul.J.West // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $23,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,010 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#4. Bartenderssantypan // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $22,270
- Median hourly wage: $10.71
- Total employment: 1,570 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#3. TelemarketersAtstock Productions // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $21,250
- Median hourly wage: $10.21
- Total employment: 340 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#2. Substitute teachers, short-termGorodenkoff // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $19,760
- Median hourly wage: $9.50
- Total employment: 340 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

]]>2461402461401#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takersTyler Olson // Shutterstock- Median annual wage: $18,240
- Median hourly wage: $8.77
- Total employment: 1,160 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

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