Lowest-paying jobs in Hattiesburg

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 Hattiesburg. 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.

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 180 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Pereiras // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Psychiatric aides

- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $30,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 760 people (12.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 1,300 people (20.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 270 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 490 people (7.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Standret // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 190 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $29,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 270 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 530 people (8.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LuckView // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 610 people (9.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 100 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Orderlies

- Median annual wage: $27,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.03
- Total employment: 520 people (8.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $26,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 2,620 people (42.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $26,850
- Median hourly wage: $12.91
- Total employment: 170 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 100 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#29. Bakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 120 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)

- Median annual wage: $26,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.50
- Total employment: 100 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $25,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.47
- Total employment: 160 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $25,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.47
- Total employment: 190 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $25,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.02
- Total employment: 950 people (15.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 90 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $24,850
- Median hourly wage: $11.95
- Total employment: 1,170 people (18.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $24,590
- Median hourly wage: $11.82
- Total employment: 370 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $24,160
- Median hourly wage: $11.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $23,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $23,600
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $23,510
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 370 people (5.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $23,500
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#16. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Bartenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 150 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $23,160
- Median hourly wage: $11.13
- Total employment: 200 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $23,000
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 790 people (12.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $22,730
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 80 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $22,440
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 210 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $22,190
- Median hourly wage: $10.67
- Total employment: 2,090 people (33.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $22,160
- Median hourly wage: $10.65
- Total employment: 1,930 people (30.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $22,010
- Median hourly wage: $10.58
- Total employment: 190 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $21,800
- Median hourly wage: $10.48
- Total employment: 90 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $20,940
- Median hourly wage: $10.07
- Total employment: 250 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $20,930
- Median hourly wage: $10.06
- Total employment: 220 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $20,120
- Median hourly wage: $9.67
- Total employment: 220 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $18,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 430 people (6.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $18,490
- Median hourly wage: $8.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)