GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 2,020 people (11.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Mobile
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 Mobile. 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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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 750 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 460 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 1,220 people (7.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Leika production // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $30,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 120 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 900 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 620 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 920 people (5.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. Tutors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cooks, restaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 1,450 people (8.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 320 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 220 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 4,860 people (28.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 170 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 380 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 320 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 280 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 90 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 2,010 people (11.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.41
- Total employment: 2,500 people (14.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 190 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 600 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 740 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 330 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,260
- Median hourly wage: $12.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $25,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.38
- Total employment: 1,740 people (10.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,340
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: Not available
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $25,100
- Median hourly wage: $12.07
- Total employment: 4,100 people (24.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $24,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.99
- Total employment: 470 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $24,590
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: 1,300 people (7.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $24,470
- Median hourly wage: $11.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $24,010
- Median hourly wage: $11.54
- Total employment: 410 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,490
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 320 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,190
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 3,030 people (17.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,020
- Median hourly wage: $11.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
shocky // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $23,000
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 250 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,990
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 600 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $22,290
- Median hourly wage: $10.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,190
- Median hourly wage: $10.67
- Total employment: 2,510 people (14.84 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: $22,160
- Median hourly wage: $10.66
- Total employment: 290 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 800 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $21,950
- Median hourly wage: $10.55
- Total employment: 410 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,030
- Median hourly wage: $10.11
- Total employment: 360 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $17,820
- Median hourly wage: $8.57
- Total employment: 840 people (4.98 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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