Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Athens
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 Athens. 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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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $34,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 120 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 990 people (10.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 280 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
giocalde // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Printing press operators
- Median annual wage: $33,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $33,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 160 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 1,030 people (10.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 1,630 people (17.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $33,340
- Median hourly wage: $16.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $32,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 850 people (8.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,530
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 320 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $31,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 100 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 510 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 120 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $31,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 350 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 1,070 people (11.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 1,060 people (11.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 180 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 200 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Standret // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 220 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 530 people (5.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 150 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
hedgehog94 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Shampooers
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 190 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 160 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 180 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 3,020 people (31.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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MAVV // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $27,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 1,030 people (10.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 210 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 1,950 people (20.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 110 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 350 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 250 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $26,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 860 people (9.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $26,250
- Median hourly wage: $12.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $25,860
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 610 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 150 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $25,080
- Median hourly wage: $12.06
- Total employment: 350 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $24,530
- Median hourly wage: $11.79
- Total employment: 4,040 people (42.44 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: $23,850
- Median hourly wage: $11.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,620
- Median hourly wage: $11.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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NIKCOA // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $23,040
- Median hourly wage: $11.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,750
- Median hourly wage: $10.46
- Total employment: 100 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $19,500
- Median hourly wage: $9.38
- Total employment: 420 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $18,860
- Median hourly wage: $9.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $17,810
- Median hourly wage: $8.56
- Total employment: 1,950 people (20.49 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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