Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 150 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Tallahassee
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 Tallahassee. 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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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 810 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 370 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 1,620 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 250 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $34,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 1,270 people (6.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $33,740
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 170 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 130 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
10 / 50#40. Stockers and order fillers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 2,710 people (14.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Virrage Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $33,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 250 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 1,140 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $32,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $32,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 180 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 1,250 people (6.81 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: $32,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.66
- Total employment: 1,980 people (10.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $32,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 130 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 280 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 130 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 120 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 270 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,010 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 5,060 people (27.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 340 people (1.84 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: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 590 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 470 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 540 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 2,500 people (13.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 260 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 290 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 1,170 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,150
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 160 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 190 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 100 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 740 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 3,410 people (18.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $27,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 2,660 people (14.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 270 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $26,980
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,720
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 6,060 people (32.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 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: $26,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 540 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $26,130
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 460 people (2.51 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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