Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Savannah
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 Savannah. 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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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Airfield operations specialists
- Median annual wage: $33,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.97
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Labor relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $32,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 210 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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zhu difeng // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,700
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 250 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,550
- Median hourly wage: $15.65
- Total employment: 1,100 people (5.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 220 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $32,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $32,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 140 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 120 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 360 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
13 / 50#37. Skincare specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sewing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 110 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 2,160 people (11.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food processing workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: Not available
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 240 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Carlovis // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 140 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 6,850 people (35.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 270 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Telemarketers
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 230 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 940 people (4.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Library technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 670 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 610 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 1,120 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 1,830 people (9.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $28,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 530 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,150 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 4,160 people (21.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 600 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 120 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 260 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 1,370 people (7.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 210 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 360 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Motortion Films // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 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: $26,920
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 980 people (5.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,810
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 6,280 people (32.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,000
- Median hourly wage: $11.54
- Total employment: 390 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $23,780
- Median hourly wage: $11.44
- Total employment: 240 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,150
- Median hourly wage: $10.17
- Total employment: 1,040 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $20,750
- Median hourly wage: $9.98
- Total employment: 4,710 people (24.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $20,610
- Median hourly wage: $9.91
- Total employment: 180 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Educational instruction and library workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $19,960
- Median hourly wage: $9.60
- Total employment: 230 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $19,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 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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