MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 140 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Akron
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 Akron. 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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Krysja // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 100 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $34,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 4,300 people (13.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $34,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 280 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $34,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 170 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 980 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $33,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 170 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: 570 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: 370 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 780 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
15 / 50#35. Healthcare support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 1,070 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.28
- Total employment: 410 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 1,610 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 7,120 people (22.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 770 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 5,570 people (17.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 220 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 510 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 110 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 220 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 830 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 410 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $30,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 300 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 1,740 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 1,440 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 280 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 580 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 800 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 5,920 people (18.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 730 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 220 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 940 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 10,050 people (31.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 580 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $27,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $24,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.75
- Total employment: 1,030 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,220
- Median hourly wage: $11.64
- Total employment: 470 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $22,530
- Median hourly wage: $10.83
- Total employment: 240 people (0.76 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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