Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Lexington
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 Lexington. 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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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 2,390 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $34,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $33,920
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,870
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
6 / 50#44. Bakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 310 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (tie)
- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 290 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 2,890 people (10.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $32,780
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 200 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 1,740 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 300 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,340
- Median hourly wage: $15.55
- Total employment: 3,860 people (13.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Art of pixels // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $32,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 130 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 400 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 690 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 920 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 1,230 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 230 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Concierges
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 1,510 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 6,920 people (24.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 2,610 people (9.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 1,100 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 690 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 500 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 390 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 410 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#16. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 880 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,750
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 410 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
O.PASH // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal trainers
- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 210 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 5,500 people (19.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 5,540 people (19.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $27,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,980
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 2,120 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 990 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 400 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.52
- Total employment: 2,900 people (10.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $24,540
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $23,900
- Median hourly wage: $11.49
- Total employment: 270 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,290
- Median hourly wage: $10.72
- Total employment: 5,110 people (18.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $21,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.3 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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