Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 2,250 people (9.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Augusta
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 Augusta. 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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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 1,190 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 3,150 people (13.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 370 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 230 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Educational instruction and library workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 900 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 450 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 630 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 690 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 270 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 340 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 80 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#30. Retail salespersons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 6,970 people (30.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Sewing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 150 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 1,980 people (8.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 310 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 270 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 470 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 160 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 1,090 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 3,510 people (15.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,870
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 590 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 5,650 people (24.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $26,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 240 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $26,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 470 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $25,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 90 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $25,710
- Median hourly wage: $12.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $25,630
- Median hourly wage: $12.32
- Total employment: 500 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $25,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.12
- Total employment: 220 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $25,200
- Median hourly wage: $12.12
- Total employment: 110 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 9,020 people (39.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $24,040
- Median hourly wage: $11.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $23,450
- Median hourly wage: $11.28
- Total employment: 660 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $23,400
- Median hourly wage: $11.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,370
- Median hourly wage: $11.24
- Total employment: 660 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $23,180
- Median hourly wage: $11.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,240 people (9.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.02
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $21,980
- Median hourly wage: $10.57
- Total employment: 200 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $20,500
- Median hourly wage: $9.86
- Total employment: 860 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $18,200
- Median hourly wage: $8.75
- Total employment: 3,680 people (16.05 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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