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1 / 50#50. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 260 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Gulfport
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 Gulfport. 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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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $29,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 400 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 810 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 170 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 2,400 people (15.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 160 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 5,280 people (33.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
14 / 50#36. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Automotive and watercraft service attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 140 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 250 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
- Median annual wage: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 580 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 360 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $26,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 390 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
- Median annual wage: $26,520
- Median hourly wage: $12.75
- Total employment: 320 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $26,420
- Median hourly wage: $12.70
- Total employment: 320 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,410
- Median hourly wage: $12.70
- Total employment: 1,300 people (8.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,150
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 390 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,590
- Median hourly wage: $12.30
- Total employment: 710 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $25,240
- Median hourly wage: $12.14
- Total employment: 280 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $25,100
- Median hourly wage: $12.07
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $24,850
- Median hourly wage: $11.95
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50#22. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,750
- Median hourly wage: $11.90
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $24,730
- Median hourly wage: $11.89
- Total employment: 250 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $24,010
- Median hourly wage: $11.54
- Total employment: 1,360 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,680
- Median hourly wage: $11.39
- Total employment: 480 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $23,600
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 1,440 people (9.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $23,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,420 people (9.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $23,370
- Median hourly wage: $11.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $23,250
- Median hourly wage: $11.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.16
- Total employment: 1,590 people (10.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $23,140
- Median hourly wage: $11.13
- Total employment: 1,010 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,810
- Median hourly wage: $10.97
- Total employment: 820 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $22,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.96
- Total employment: 4,540 people (28.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $22,560
- Median hourly wage: $10.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,430
- Median hourly wage: $10.78
- Total employment: 3,990 people (25.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $22,410
- Median hourly wage: $10.77
- Total employment: 1,020 people (6.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $22,310
- Median hourly wage: $10.73
- Total employment: 590 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Virrage Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $22,210
- Median hourly wage: $10.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $21,970
- Median hourly wage: $10.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $20,540
- Median hourly wage: $9.88
- Total employment: 4,130 people (26.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $20,360
- Median hourly wage: $9.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $20,070
- Median hourly wage: $9.65
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 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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