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 Columbus. 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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1 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,610
- Median hourly wage: $18.56
- Total employment: 220 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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2 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,600
- Median hourly wage: $18.56
- Total employment: 50 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,090
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Total employment: 280 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,080
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Total employment: 370 people (7.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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5 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,010
- Median hourly wage: $18.27
- Total employment: 1,140 people (22.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,770
- Median hourly wage: $18.16
- Total employment: 90 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,610
- Median hourly wage: $18.08
- Total employment: 360 people (7.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 410 people (8.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 400 people (7.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,080
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: Not available
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11 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,990
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 110 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 170 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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13 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 180 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 280 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 230 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 150 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 230 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 120 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 110 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 380 people (7.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 110 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 120 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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27 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.45
- Total employment: 780 people (15.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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28 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 840 people (16.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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30 / 50- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 160 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 350 people (6.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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32 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 60 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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34 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 210 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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35 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 100 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 200 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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37 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 70 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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38 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 1,530 people (30.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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39 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 130 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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40 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (6.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 850 people (16.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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42 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 140 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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43 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 1,640 people (32.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50- Median annual wage: $26,630
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 90 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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45 / 50- Median annual wage: $25,180
- Median hourly wage: $12.10
- Total employment: 150 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50- Median annual wage: $24,560
- Median hourly wage: $11.81
- Total employment: 80 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $24,190
- Median hourly wage: $11.63
- Total employment: 520 people (10.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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48 / 50- Median annual wage: $23,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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49 / 50- Median annual wage: $22,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 130 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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50 / 50- Median annual wage: $21,690
- Median hourly wage: $10.43
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 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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