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1 / 50#50. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 2,720 people (17.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Gainesville
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 Gainesville. 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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $35,550
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 210 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 940 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 80 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 1,500 people (9.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 1,530 people (10.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 110 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#41. Security guards (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 740 people (4.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,030 people (6.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 960 people (6.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 180 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.48
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $33,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 1,130 people (7.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $33,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 160 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 170 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 220 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $32,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 670 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $32,810
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 220 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $32,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 170 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 2,420 people (15.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 130 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 1,530 people (10.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $31,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 1,250 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 100 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 4,240 people (27.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 710 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 250 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 260 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 90 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 180 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 450 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 370 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 510 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 2,650 people (17.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 2,760 people (18.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 260 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 270 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 4,680 people (30.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 460 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,780
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 630 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.45
- Total employment: 280 people (1.85 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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