Lowest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina
Lowest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina
The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there’s a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.
Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.
Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that don't require a college degree
#50. Bakers
- Annual mean salary: $30,410
- #171 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,300
- Employment: 181,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,850)
--- Chattanooga, TN-GA ($41,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,160)

#49. Security guards
- Annual mean salary: $30,350
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,830
- Employment: 1,057,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)
#48. Recreation workers
- Annual mean salary: $30,300
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,020
- Employment: 264,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)

#47. Stockers and order fillers
- Annual mean salary: $30,090
- #244 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,020
- Employment: 2,451,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)
#46. Residential advisors
- Annual mean salary: $30,060
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,950
- Employment: 92,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($50,560)
--- Napa, CA ($48,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,210)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Charleston, South Carolina
#44 (tie). Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Annual mean salary: $29,650
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,680
- Employment: 132,100
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($40,580)
--- Anchorage, AK ($40,540)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,730)
#44 (tie). Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Annual mean salary: $29,650
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,960
- Employment: 111,480
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)

#43. Psychiatric aides
- Annual mean salary: $29,280
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,640
- Employment: 39,140
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($54,830)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($54,000)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($51,960)

#42. Parking enforcement workers
- Annual mean salary: $28,630
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,050
- Employment: 7,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($90,360)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($70,670)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($57,200)

#41. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Annual mean salary: $28,550
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,500
- Employment: 243,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($46,270)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,400)
You may also like: Where people in Charleston are moving to most
#40. Couriers and messengers
- Annual mean salary: $28,530
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,270
- Employment: 68,310
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,430)
--- Modesto, CA ($42,550)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,220)

#39. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $28,520
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,060
- Employment: 11,710
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($42,590)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($41,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,090)
#38. Retail salespersons
- Annual mean salary: $28,400
- #294 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,920
- Employment: 3,693,490
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)
#37. Cooks, short order
- Annual mean salary: $28,340
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 124,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,060)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,940)

#36. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $27,930
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)
You may also like: How Charleston, South Carolina feels about climate change
#35. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Annual mean salary: $27,380
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,810
- Employment: 30,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- St. Cloud, MN ($70,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($61,160)
#33 (tie). Food batchmakers
- Annual mean salary: $27,250
- #240 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,190
- Employment: 155,240
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($65,310)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($56,900)
--- Binghamton, NY ($50,910)
#33 (tie). Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $27,250
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,160
- Employment: 21,610
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,700)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,370)
#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Annual mean salary: $27,170
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,350
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,520
- Employment: 392,860
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)
#31. Food preparation workers
- Annual mean salary: $27,110
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,810
- Employment: 783,350
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)
You may also like: Dogs available for adoption in Charleston, South Carolina

#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $26,920
- #246 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,950
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
#28 (tie). Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Annual mean salary: $26,660
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,830
- Employment: 157,400
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)
#28 (tie). Animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $26,660
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,520
- Employment: 225,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
--- Salinas, CA ($37,420)
#27. Packers and packagers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $26,370
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,950
- Employment: 585,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
--- Rome, GA ($38,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)
#26. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Annual mean salary: $26,270
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,550
- Employment: 351,960
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina, according to Tripadvisor
#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Annual mean salary: $26,070
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- Employment: 220,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)
#24. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Annual mean salary: $25,940
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,320
- Employment: 114,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($43,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,930)
#23. Bartenders
- Annual mean salary: $25,890
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,340
- Employment: 485,330
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)
#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $25,580
- #240 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,580
- Employment: 723,430
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)
#21. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $25,520
- #337 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,860
- Employment: 2,036,680
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive rent in Charleston

#20. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $25,370
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)
--- Reno, NV ($57,420)

#19. Legislators
- Annual mean salary: $25,120
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,110
- Employment: 44,590
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yakima, WA ($139,690)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($136,400)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($132,460)
#18. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Annual mean salary: $25,050
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,040
- Employment: 20,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,160)
#17. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Annual mean salary: $24,820
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,110
- Employment: 26,910
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,040)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($37,370)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($36,530)
#16. Barbers
- Annual mean salary: $24,800
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,700
- Employment: 12,910
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,020)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($48,170)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($48,120)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Charleston
#15. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Annual mean salary: $24,780
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,390
- Employment: 54,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($48,540)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($39,670)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,140)
#14. Parking attendants
- Annual mean salary: $24,290
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,210
- Employment: 91,160
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,420)

#13. Dishwashers
- Annual mean salary: $24,160
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,350
- Employment: 377,040
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)
#12. Cashiers
- Annual mean salary: $24,100
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,780
- Employment: 3,335,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)
#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Annual mean salary: $24,090
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,690
- Employment: 336,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($38,490)
--- Ithaca, NY ($38,170)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,910)
You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina, according to Tripadvisor
#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Annual mean salary: $23,870
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- Employment: 1,804,030
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
--- Ithaca, NY ($44,970)
#9. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Annual mean salary: $23,350
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,480
- Employment: 120,540
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($45,320)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($42,170)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($40,030)
#8. Childcare workers
- Annual mean salary: $23,180
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
National
- Annual mean salary: $27,680
- Employment: 438,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
--- Napa, CA ($36,850)
#7. Cooks, fast food
- Annual mean salary: $22,900
- #205 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $25,490
- Employment: 768,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)

#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Annual mean salary: $22,670
- #255 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,060
- Employment: 3,095,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)
You may also like: Where people in Charleston, South Carolina are moving to most
#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Annual mean salary: $22,650
- #228 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,740
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,000
- Employment: 324,690
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,060)
--- Madera, CA ($36,490)
#4. Gambling dealers
- Annual mean salary: $22,340
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $28,960
- Employment: 64,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($50,000)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($45,790)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($45,250)
#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Annual mean salary: $22,160
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
National
- Annual mean salary: $26,110
- Employment: 262,170
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,800)
--- Anchorage, AK ($36,020)
#2. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Annual mean salary: $21,800
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,110
- Employment: 7,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($37,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($35,950)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($34,330)
#1. Telemarketers
- Annual mean salary: $18,690
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,670
- Employment: 115,130
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($49,120)
--- New Haven, CT ($48,680)
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Charleston, South Carolina metro area