New Africa // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 1,060 people (5.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Asheville
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 Asheville. 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
2 / 50#49. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $36,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 310 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 2,920 people (15.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $36,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 310 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Carlovis // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $35,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 320 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 520 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 460 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 500 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 1,460 people (7.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 120 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 230 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $34,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 160 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitreel // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 110 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $34,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 900 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 2,380 people (12.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 550 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 410 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 1,350 people (7.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 2,590 people (13.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 790 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $33,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 420 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 480 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Med Photo Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $32,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 650 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $32,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.54
- Total employment: 240 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 190 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 190 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 5,690 people (30.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 320 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 1,900 people (10.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 4,380 people (23.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 4,410 people (23.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 650 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 800 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 4,890 people (26.1 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: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,430 people (7.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 230 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 590 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 3,130 people (16.73 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: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 740 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Baggage porters and bellhops
- Median annual wage: $26,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: Not available
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,120
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 450 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $26,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.53
- Total employment: 140 people (0.75 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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