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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)
Lowest-paying jobs in Gainesville, Georgia
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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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
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)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
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)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $36,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.64
- Total employment: 1,480 people (14.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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science photo // Shutterstock
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)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
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)
DuxX // Shutterstock
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)
New Africa // Shutterstock
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)
DuxX // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
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)
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)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
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)
worradirek // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 290 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Standret // Shutterstock
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)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
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)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
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)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
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)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
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)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
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)
SGr // Shutterstock
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)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Educational instruction and library workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 110 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
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)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
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)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 2,540 people (24.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
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)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
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)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
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)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
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)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
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)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
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)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
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)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
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)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
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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aboutsung // Shutterstock
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)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
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)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
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)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
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)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $26,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 150 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ITisha // Shutterstock
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)
santypan // Shutterstock
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)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
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)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
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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