Dragon Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 240 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa
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 Tuscaloosa. 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Tuscaloosa that require a bachelor's degree
David Pereiras // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Psychiatric aides
- Median annual wage: $32,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 550 people (5.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $32,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 1,370 people (12.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $31,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Tuscaloosa
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $31,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 170 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 1,060 people (9.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 1,700 people (15.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 1,450 people (13.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Tuscaloosa area by diners
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 140 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 450 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 110 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Tuscaloosa in the last week
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 100 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 1,040 people (9.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 550 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 160 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Tuscaloosa this year
Kzenon // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 130 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 540 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 2,980 people (27.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 110 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Tuscaloosa
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 250 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 680 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 190 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 250 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Tuscaloosa
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 1,410 people (12.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 280 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 2,610 people (24.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 510 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Tuscaloosa
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 290 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,630
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 220 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,560
- Median hourly wage: $12.77
- Total employment: 1,340 people (12.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 240 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $26,140
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Tuscaloosa
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 210 people (1.97 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: 290 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,850
- Median hourly wage: $11.47
- Total employment: 2,160 people (19.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 1,810 people (16.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,470
- Median hourly wage: $10.81
- Total employment: 280 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Tuscaloosa's 2025 housing market year in review
santypan // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,420
- Median hourly wage: $10.78
- Total employment: 460 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $22,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $22,380
- Median hourly wage: $10.76
- Total employment: 260 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,550
- Median hourly wage: $10.36
- Total employment: 280 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $19,390
- Median hourly wage: $9.32
- Total employment: 590 people (5.41 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Tuscaloosa
