Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Jacksonville, North Carolina
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 Jacksonville. 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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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 390 people (7.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 80 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $34,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 60 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
nullplus // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 280 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $34,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 120 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 130 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 200 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $33,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.13
- Total employment: 190 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 260 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.02
- Total employment: 430 people (8.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $32,870
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: 1,250 people (23.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 690 people (13.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $31,370
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 90 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $31,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $31,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 1,270 people (23.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
17 / 50#33. Training and development specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 260 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food servers, nonrestaurant (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 130 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 100 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 90 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 440 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 320 people (6.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 810 people (15.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 800 people (15.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.69
- Total employment: 270 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 110 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 2,040 people (38.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 240 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 150 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 260 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 150 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 480 people (9.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $27,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 670 people (12.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 1,560 people (29.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 1,110 people (20.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 140 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $26,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 300 people (5.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#8. Cashiers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.46
- Total employment: 1,850 people (35.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $25,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.47
- Total employment: 220 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $25,860
- Median hourly wage: $12.43
- Total employment: 60 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,860
- Median hourly wage: $11.95
- Total employment: 130 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,420
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 2,190 people (41.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $23,140
- Median hourly wage: $11.13
- Total employment: 80 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $22,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 250 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $21,670
- Median hourly wage: $10.42
- Total employment: 160 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $18,120
- Median hourly wage: $8.71
- Total employment: 460 people (8.6 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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