Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Fayetteville
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 Fayetteville. 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: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Fayetteville
Kzenon // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $33,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 310 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 5,660 people (21.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 130 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $33,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 100 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Fayetteville
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 980 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $32,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.64
- Total employment: 1,290 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Medical transcriptionists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Crossing guards and flaggers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: Not available
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Fayetteville October 2025
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $31,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 990 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $31,550
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 110 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 3,540 people (13.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville for high school graduates
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $31,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 130 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 2,550 people (9.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 780 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Fayetteville
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 140 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 6,890 people (25.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 650 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,740 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 340 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Fayetteville area by diners
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 100 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $29,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 220 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 260 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
30 / 50#20. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 370 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Fayetteville by diners
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 400 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $29,540
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 460 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 5,020 people (18.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 1,310 people (4.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Fayetteville area by visitors
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 760 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 2,800 people (10.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 1,380 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 90 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Fayetteville metro area
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 8,720 people (32.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 400 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 900 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 90 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 610 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Fayetteville?
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 530 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 830 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 4,490 people (16.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,570
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 810 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $24,710
- Median hourly wage: $11.88
- Total employment: 1,320 people (4.94 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: Best high schools in the Fayetteville metro area
