Standret // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $38,110
- Median hourly wage: $18.32
- Total employment: 230 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Norwich
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 Norwich. 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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Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $37,950
- Median hourly wage: $18.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $37,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.18
- Total employment: 270 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Security guards (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.01
- Total employment: 900 people (7.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Crossing guards and flaggers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,460
- Median hourly wage: $18.01
- Total employment: 130 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
7 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.95
- Total employment: 1,030 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Cooks, restaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.95
- Total employment: 1,560 people (12.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $36,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 360 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $36,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 300 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,720 people (13.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 200 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#35. Driver/sales workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 260 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Stockers and order fillers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 2,060 people (16.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 2,540 people (20.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $35,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 210 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $35,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 330 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $35,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 170 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 1,140 people (9.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 260 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 250 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Animal trainers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $35,040
- Median hourly wage: $16.85
- Total employment: 170 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 3,440 people (27.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 2,200 people (17.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 940 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $34,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 100 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 590 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $34,550
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 650 people (5.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrei Zveaghintev // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Gambling service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: Not available
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 230 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 990 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 320 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 2,970 people (23.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $33,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 890 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#7. Fast food and counter workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 2,720 people (21.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.78 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: $33,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 630 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,840
- Median hourly wage: $15.79
- Total employment: 180 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,710
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Manicurists and pedicurists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 240 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 160 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 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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