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 Goldsboro. 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.
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Goldsboro in the last week
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,600
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 240 people (5.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 130 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 30 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Goldsboro
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
alexdov // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.63
- Total employment: 80 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 880 people (21.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 260 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 160 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Goldsboro
DuxX // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 160 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: 450 people (11.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Goldsboro
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 170 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 150 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 150 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $33,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 710 people (17.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Goldsboro by diners
MAVV // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: Not available
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.78
- Total employment: 1,120 people (27.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.78
- Total employment: 560 people (13.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $32,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $31,900
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Goldsboro?
New Africa // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 170 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $31,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 60 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $30,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 70 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 440 people (10.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 70 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Goldsboro area by diners
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 50 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,450 people (35.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 60 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Goldsboro area by diners
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 250 people (5.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 870 people (21.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 230 people (5.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.18
- Total employment: 90 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 110 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Goldsboro by diners
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 410 people (10.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 180 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $26,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 1,470 people (35.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $23,760
- Median hourly wage: $11.42
- Total employment: 120 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $23,690
- Median hourly wage: $11.39
- Total employment: 680 people (16.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Goldsboro are looking to buy homes
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $22,840
- Median hourly wage: $10.98
- Total employment: 140 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $22,520
- Median hourly wage: $10.83
- Total employment: 1,060 people (25.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $20,690
- Median hourly wage: $9.95
- Total employment: 80 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $20,250
- Median hourly wage: $9.73
- Total employment: 110 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $18,680
- Median hourly wage: $8.98
- Total employment: 140 people (3.44 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.
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Goldsboro
