Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $35,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 130 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Port St. Lucie
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 Port St. Lucie. 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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New Africa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.13
- Total employment: 1,400 people (8.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,520
- Median hourly wage: $17.08
- Total employment: 240 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 1,550 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 3,160 people (18.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,870
- Median hourly wage: $16.77
- Total employment: 420 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 220 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $34,560
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $34,490
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 170 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 310 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 380 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $33,880
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 120 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $33,870
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 710 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 1,780 people (10.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 240 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 2,140 people (12.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $32,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 770 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $32,460
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $31,750
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 350 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 250 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $30,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#21. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 5,960 people (35.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Substitute teachers, short-term (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 240 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 1,050 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 220 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 480 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 740 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 190 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 750 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 4,040 people (24.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 730 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 4,240 people (25.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 320 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 930 people (5.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 390 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 290 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 700 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
47 / 50#3. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 500 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Fast food and counter workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 4,470 people (26.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 900 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,590
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: 760 people (4.53 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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