Lowest-paying jobs in Manchester

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 Manchester. 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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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $37,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.98
- Total employment: 420 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $37,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 110 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $37,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 1,910 people (9.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $37,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 450 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $37,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 840 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $36,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 2,450 people (12.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $36,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,150 people (10.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $36,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 2,530 people (12.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

O.PASH // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $36,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $36,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 780 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 710 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $35,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 3,680 people (18.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 250 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#35. Recreation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,580
- Median hourly wage: $17.10
- Total employment: 560 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Office machine operators, except computer (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,580
- Median hourly wage: $17.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: Not available

guruXOX // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Camera operators, television, video, and film

- Median annual wage: $35,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: Not available

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $35,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 110 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

- Median annual wage: $35,240
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 110 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $35,010
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 800 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 370 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $34,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 6,000 people (29.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 220 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $34,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 150 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 620 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 890 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,030
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 960 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $32,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 1,160 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 290 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Pharmacy aides

- Median annual wage: $32,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 320 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 5,340 people (26.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 3,800 people (18.8 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: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 450 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pressmaster // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 540 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 860 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 130 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

APChanel // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 1,050 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 270 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $27,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 650 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 140 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $21,970
- Median hourly wage: $10.56
- Total employment: 490 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $21,790
- Median hourly wage: $10.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 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.