Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#49. Firefighters (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Jonesboro
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 Jonesboro. 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 Jonesboro
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,720
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 310 people (5.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 170 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Graders and sorters, agricultural products
- Median annual wage: $33,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: 100 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 1,050 people (17.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Jonesboro
worradirek // Shutterstock
6 / 50#44. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 110 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Switchboard operators, including answering service (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 640 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $32,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Jonesboro
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 260 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lighthunter // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Medical equipment repairers
- Median annual wage: $32,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 120 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Jonesboro area by diners
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 1,110 people (18.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 600 people (10.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Jonesboro area by diners
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 250 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 540 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 70 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 1,690 people (28.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Jonesboro
Kzenon // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (10.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 130 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 110 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 90 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Jonesboro by diners
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 120 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 570 people (9.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 150 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 420 people (7.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food preparation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 310 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Jonesboro this year
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 1,030 people (17.28 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: $27,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 950 people (15.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 160 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 120 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 1,520 people (25.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Jonesboro area by diners
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 100 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $26,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 170 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $26,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 170 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 880 people (14.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Jonesboro
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,480
- Median hourly wage: $12.73
- Total employment: 1,840 people (30.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $25,310
- Median hourly wage: $12.17
- Total employment: 100 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $24,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.98
- Total employment: 400 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $24,550
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 120 people (2.06 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 restaurants for 8 cuisines in Jonesboro
