Lowest-paying jobs in Ocala

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 Ocala. 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.

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $34,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 1,300 people (10.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

- Median annual wage: $34,570
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 2,730 people (22.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $34,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 1,130 people (9.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $34,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 190 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

zhu difeng // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 210 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $34,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $34,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 1,090 people (9.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Krysja // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Orderlies

- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 900 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Standret // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 360 people (3.07 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: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 1,140 people (9.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 380 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 330 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 180 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pressmaster // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 680 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 160 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 200 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 200 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 4,460 people (37.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 1,510 people (12.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 690 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 160 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 390 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 440 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 600 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 3,160 people (26.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (5.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 250 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 340 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. File clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 130 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 180 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 2,290 people (19.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $28,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 410 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 3,430 people (28.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $26,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 370 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $26,680
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 620 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $25,780
- Median hourly wage: $12.39
- Total employment: 450 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $25,700
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 170 people (1.42 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.