worradirek // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 110 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Daphne
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 Daphne. 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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Undrey // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $31,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 580 people (6.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,650
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 280 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $31,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 810 people (9.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 250 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 470 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 90 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 120 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 90 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 1,080 people (12.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 1,680 people (20.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 370 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 110 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 300 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 4,460 people (53.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 250 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 140 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 340 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#24. Driver/sales workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 270 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 680 people (8.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 530 people (6.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 1,090 people (12.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 830 people (9.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#18. Preschool teachers, except special education (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 310 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 140 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 2,880 people (34.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 200 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $26,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.60
- Total employment: 90 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,190
- Median hourly wage: $12.59
- Total employment: 1,060 people (12.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,040
- Median hourly wage: $12.52
- Total employment: 470 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,770
- Median hourly wage: $12.39
- Total employment: 90 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $24,320
- Median hourly wage: $11.69
- Total employment: 1,180 people (13.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $24,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $23,370
- Median hourly wage: $11.24
- Total employment: 230 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,360
- Median hourly wage: $11.23
- Total employment: 2,060 people (24.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,850
- Median hourly wage: $10.99
- Total employment: 650 people (7.72 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: $22,300
- Median hourly wage: $10.72
- Total employment: 380 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $21,990
- Median hourly wage: $10.57
- Total employment: 2,960 people (35.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $21,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,910
- Median hourly wage: $10.54
- Total employment: 610 people (7.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $17,740
- Median hourly wage: $8.53
- Total employment: 400 people (4.77 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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