zhu difeng // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Dover
Uncertainty 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 Dover. 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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worradirek // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $36,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 80 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 790 people (11.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LuckView // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: Not available
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 680 people (9.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 230 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 170 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 270 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 380 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 80 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 500 people (7.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 380 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $34,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 190 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $34,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 610 people (8.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 160 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 110 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,560
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 100 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 140 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 1,270 people (18.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $33,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 190 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $33,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 980 people (14.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 1,900 people (27.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 120 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: Not available
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 450 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $30,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 320 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 190 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 90 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 2,150 people (31.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 110 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 300 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 130 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 110 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 220 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 2,210 people (32.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 300 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
45 / 50#5. Cooks, fast food (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 250 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 230 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 170 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 240 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 190 people (2.75 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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