Lowest-paying jobs in Philadelphia
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but financial inequality prevails within its borders. That divide is growing, especially between the poorest and richest U.S. residents.
The middle class is shrinking. In 2021, just half of adults lived in a middle-income household, a huge drop from 61% in the 70s. This dip meant some middle-class adults broke into the high-income bracket. At the same time, the share of lower-income residents is growing: 29% of adults lived in low-income households in 2021, compared to 25% in 1971.
Wages over this period grew at all income levels, but the rich got significantly higher bumps. Pew Charitable Trusts found that high incomes grew 69% over the past 50 years, while low incomes grew just 45%. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and further exposed these harsh financial gaps.
The difference in pay for the highest- and lowest-paying jobs in the U.S. last year was over eightfold: from about $28,000 for entertainment attendants to over $251,000 for physicians. Nationally, most of the lowest-paying jobs are in the leisure and accommodation fields: think folks who work in food establishments, at hotels, at recreational facilities like pools and amusement parks, and other service jobs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Philadelphia. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
#50. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $32,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 300 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $32,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 810 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $31,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 24,070 people (8.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.32
- Total employment: 24,310 people (8.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 290 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Floral designers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 850 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Physical therapist aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 4,340 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#41. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 9,640 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 5,510 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Cutters and trimmers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,720
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 12,980 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. Religious workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 250 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Gambling dealers
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 1,370 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 360 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 2,360 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 2,600 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 630 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 64,530 people (23.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 6,670 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 2,190 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 2,040 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 5,330 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Food preparation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 11,460 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Personal care and service workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,340 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 37,050 people (13.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 7,870 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 1,830 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 108,370 people (39.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,480
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 7,570 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 1,930 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 1,230 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 2,390 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 61,140 people (22.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 6,590 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 7,910 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#12. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 6,740 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 370 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Taxi drivers
- Median annual wage: $27,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 57,690 people (20.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 10,910 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 6,490 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Manicurists and pedicurists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 6,780 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Shampooers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 780 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#4. Transportation workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,780
- Median hourly wage: $12.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 2,400 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,060
- Median hourly wage: $12.53
- Total employment: 660 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.51
- Total employment: 2,280 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
