Lowest-paying jobs in Gainesville, Georgia

·Stacker

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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 Gainesville. 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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#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

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1 / 50

#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $37,060
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 210 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

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2 / 50

#49. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $36,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 170 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Food processing workers, all other

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3 / 50

#48. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 190 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

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4 / 50

#47. Graders and sorters, agricultural products

- Median annual wage: $36,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 480 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Food scientists and technologists

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6 / 50

#45. Food scientists and technologists

- Median annual wage: $36,620
- Median hourly wage: $17.61
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (tie)

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7 / 50

#43. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 690 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (tie)

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8 / 50

#43. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $36,290
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 1,530 people (14.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Receptionists and information clerks

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9 / 50

#42. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 850 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Stockers and order fillers

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11 / 50

#40. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $35,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 1,510 people (14.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

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12 / 50

#39. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 250 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Cooks, restaurant

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14 / 50

#37. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 800 people (7.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Counter and rental clerks

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16 / 50

#35. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.77
- Total employment: 150 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

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17 / 50

#34. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

- Median annual wage: $34,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Office and administrative support workers, all other

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18 / 50

#33. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Packers and packagers, hand

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19 / 50

#32. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 760 people (7.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

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21 / 50

#30. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $34,160
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 80 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Food preparation workers

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22 / 50

#29. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 470 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Bakers

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23 / 50

#28. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 130 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Machine feeders and offbearers

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24 / 50

#27. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 300 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Food servers, nonrestaurant

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26 / 50

#25. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $32,130
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

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27 / 50

#24. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 290 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

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28 / 50

#23. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 1,360 people (13.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

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29 / 50

#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Home health and personal care aides

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31 / 50

#20. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 560 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Recreation workers

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32 / 50

#19. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

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33 / 50

#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 140 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Dishwashers

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34 / 50

#17. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 220 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)

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36 / 50

#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 260 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Animal caretakers (tie)

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37 / 50

#14. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

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38 / 50

#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 80 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Cashiers

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39 / 50

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 1,700 people (16.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

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40 / 50

#11. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

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41 / 50

#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 180 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

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42 / 50

#9. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $27,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 640 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

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43 / 50

#8. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $26,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Fast food and counter workers

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44 / 50

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 3,090 people (30.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Bailiffs

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46 / 50

#5. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $25,920
- Median hourly wage: $12.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Bartenders

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47 / 50

#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 150 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Personal care and service workers, all other

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48 / 50

#3. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $24,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

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49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,850
- Median hourly wage: $11.47
- Total employment: 110 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Waiters and waitresses

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50 / 50

#1. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $19,650
- Median hourly wage: $9.45
- Total employment: 1,300 people (12.65 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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