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1 / 50#50. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 180 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Hickory
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 Hickory. 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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2 / 50#49. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $33,570
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 560 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.97
- Total employment: 1,480 people (9.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Writers and authors
- Median annual wage: $33,110
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $33,030
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: Not available
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7 / 50#44. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 180 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 460 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $32,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.78
- Total employment: 170 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $32,780
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: 590 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,710
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 150 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MS Mikel // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $32,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 350 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $31,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 200 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 90 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 150 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 950 people (6.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,540
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 240 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 250 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 150 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 2,110 people (13.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Pharmacy aides
- Median annual wage: $29,520
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 650 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 3,840 people (24.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 350 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 2,530 people (16.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 130 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 50#18. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 550 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 290 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 700 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 300 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 330 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 3,670 people (23.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 2,070 people (13.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,450
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $26,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 830 people (5.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $24,990
- Median hourly wage: $12.02
- Total employment: Not available
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $24,180
- Median hourly wage: $11.63
- Total employment: 2,990 people (19.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $23,960
- Median hourly wage: $11.52
- Total employment: 280 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.50
- Total employment: 130 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 340 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $22,990
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,620
- Median hourly wage: $10.88
- Total employment: 350 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $19,570
- Median hourly wage: $9.41
- Total employment: 490 people (3.17 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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