Lowest-paying jobs in Pensacola

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 Pensacola. 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.

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 150 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,740
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 1,400 people (7.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Orderlies

- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $32,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $32,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: 160 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $32,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $32,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 360 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $32,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.47
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $32,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $32,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.40
- Total employment: 210 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $32,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 120 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 230 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 6,340 people (33.56 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: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 1,820 people (9.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 150 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 180 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 180 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 390 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 570 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $29,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 600 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Krysja // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 550 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $29,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 1,240 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 350 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $29,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 2,700 people (14.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 1,380 people (7.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 420 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

- Median annual wage: $29,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#16. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 260 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 650 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 4,420 people (23.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 4,330 people (22.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#11. Childcare workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 350 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 960 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 150 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 950 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 750 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 160 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 7,180 people (38.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $26,900
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 390 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 330 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $26,450
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.45 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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