DGLimages // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Panama City
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 Panama City. 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-rated steak restaurants in the Panama City area by diners
worradirek // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $35,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 1,370 people (15.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 590 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Panama City area by diners
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,510
- Median hourly wage: $16.59
- Total employment: 110 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,490
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 610 people (6.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 620 people (7.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Panama City by diners
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 160 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $33,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 160 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Panama City area by diners
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $32,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 320 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $31,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 620 people (7.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,650
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $31,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Tex-Mex restaurants in Panama City by diners
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 150 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 150 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 80 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 3,400 people (38.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Panama City
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 1,520 people (17.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $30,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 400 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 960 people (10.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Panama City that require a graduate degree
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 210 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 790 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 150 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 130 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 640 people (7.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Panama City
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 310 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
flywish // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 130 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 2,460 people (27.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 380 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Panama City
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 200 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 430 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 2,510 people (28.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 360 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best restaurants for 9 cuisines in Panama City
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 450 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 450 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $27,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 290 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 3,040 people (34.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 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: Highest-rated cafes in the Panama City area by diners
