Lowest-paying jobs in Huntsville

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 Huntsville. 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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SGr // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $33,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 210 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 440 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 2,590 people (9.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $32,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 310 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 1,170 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $31,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.07
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 210 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 6,860 people (26.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VH-studio // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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goodluz // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 300 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 320 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $30,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 160 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 2,770 people (10.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 820 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 440 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

create jobs 51 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 550 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 420 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $29,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 90 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 390 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 880 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 310 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 130 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 500 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 4,630 people (17.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 2,000 people (7.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 560 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 2,990 people (11.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 610 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $27,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 800 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 240 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 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: $27,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 530 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 1,630 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $26,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $26,710
- Median hourly wage: $12.84
- Total employment: 4,490 people (17.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $24,320
- Median hourly wage: $11.69
- Total employment: Not available

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $23,710
- Median hourly wage: $11.40
- Total employment: 430 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $23,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 890 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $23,120
- Median hourly wage: $11.11
- Total employment: 3,070 people (11.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santypan // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $22,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.96
- Total employment: 770 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $22,200
- Median hourly wage: $10.68
- Total employment: 890 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $22,100
- Median hourly wage: $10.63
- Total employment: 490 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $18,500
- Median hourly wage: $8.90
- Total employment: 1,080 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $17,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (2.24 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.