Lowest-paying jobs in Brunswick

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 Brunswick. 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.

worradirek // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,110
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 80 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $36,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 90 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $35,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.25
- Total employment: 230 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 200 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $35,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 480 people (10.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 80 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Standret // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $34,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 110 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $34,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 330 people (7.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $34,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 440 people (9.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 530 people (11.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 330 people (7.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $32,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 800 people (17.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 120 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $31,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 310 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Brunswick?

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 830 people (17.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 640 people (13.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 150 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 50 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 170 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Coat drives near Brunswick

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (9.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,720
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 150 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 220 people (4.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 630 people (13.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 420 people (9.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 270 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 340 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 80 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Brunswick's 2025 housing market year in review

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 130 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#13. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 1,740 people (37.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cooks, fast food (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 80 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 50 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 230 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Brunswick October 2025

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $27,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 90 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 260 people (5.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 1,250 people (27.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Brunswick

aboutsung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $26,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 230 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 90 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $25,360
- Median hourly wage: $12.19
- Total employment: 2,000 people (43.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 180 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)