Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,960
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 800 people (11.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Dalton
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 Dalton. 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.
You may also like: Dalton 7-day weather forecast
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 80 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 790 people (11.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 210 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Dalton
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 130 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 530 people (7.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 340 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
RossHelen // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 200 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 130 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Dalton
DuxX // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.91
- Total employment: 100 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Helpers--production workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 190 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,650
- Median hourly wage: $15.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $32,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 1,190 people (17.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,110
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Dalton that require a graduate degree
Kzenon // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: Not available
Alba_alioth // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 160 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 230 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 110 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Dalton and surrounding regions
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 740 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 470 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 290 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Blanscape // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Conveyor operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $30,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Dalton in the last week
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 400 people (6.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Sewing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 550 people (8.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Dalton metro area
worradirek // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 60 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 90 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 160 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 1,480 people (22.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Dalton
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 130 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 170 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,300
- Median hourly wage: $12.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (7.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Dalton?
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $25,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.49
- Total employment: 1,170 people (17.67 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: $24,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $23,600
- Median hourly wage: $11.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,300
- Median hourly wage: $11.20
- Total employment: 1,600 people (24.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $23,130
- Median hourly wage: $11.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Dalton this year
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cutters and trimmers, hand
- Median annual wage: $22,200
- Median hourly wage: $10.68
- Total employment: Not available
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $22,000
- Median hourly wage: $10.58
- Total employment: 150 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,850
- Median hourly wage: $10.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $19,170
- Median hourly wage: $9.22
- Total employment: 80 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $19,010
- Median hourly wage: $9.14
- Total employment: 690 people (10.33 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.
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Dalton
