SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 570 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Little Rock
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 Little Rock. 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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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 210 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: Not available
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 1,360 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 3,040 people (8.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 300 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 690 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $29,540
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 9,530 people (27.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,400 people (6.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 4,530 people (12.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $29,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 520 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $28,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 850 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 230 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 150 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 700 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 360 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 940 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 610 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 580 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 7,410 people (21.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 1,880 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 630 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 850 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 1,830 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 8,550 people (24.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $26,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 5,720 people (16.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 170 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,830
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 200 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,770
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 2,070 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: Not available
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,470
- Median hourly wage: $12.73
- Total employment: 5,760 people (16.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,450
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 930 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $26,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $26,150
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 770 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 680 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $25,910
- Median hourly wage: $12.46
- Total employment: 540 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,540
- Median hourly wage: $12.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $24,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.97
- Total employment: 1,820 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $24,260
- Median hourly wage: $11.66
- Total employment: 570 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Barbers
- Median annual wage: $23,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 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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