worradirek // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $38,120
- Median hourly wage: $18.33
- Total employment: 70 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Punta Gorda
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 Punta Gorda. 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: $37,890
- Median hourly wage: $18.22
- Total employment: 150 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $37,720
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 880 people (15.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $37,710
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 180 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $37,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 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: $37,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 770 people (13.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $37,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 120 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 190 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $36,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.60
- Total employment: 770 people (13.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Cineberg // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Helpers, construction trades, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 990 people (17.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 560 people (9.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $36,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 630 people (11.17 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: $35,580
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.05
- Total employment: 680 people (12.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Aircraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 110 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 190 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 170 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 120 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 110 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 130 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $33,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,840
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 650 people (11.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $33,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 130 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
28 / 50#22. Couriers and messengers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Home health and personal care aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 570 people (10.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $32,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 2,460 people (43.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $32,370
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 190 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $32,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (7.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 60 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 120 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 440 people (7.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 1,590 people (28.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 1,750 people (31.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 320 people (5.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 80 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 160 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 240 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 430 people (7.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 170 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 1,530 people (27.25 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: $27,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 290 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 220 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 250 people (4.45 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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