Lowest-paying jobs in Canton

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 Canton. 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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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $33,870
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 2,100 people (12.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 610 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $33,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 220 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $33,580
- Median hourly wage: $16.14
- Total employment: 1,600 people (9.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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New Africa // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 1,110 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Skincare specialists

- Median annual wage: $33,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. File clerks

- Median annual wage: $32,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $32,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,090
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 630 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

encierro // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $30,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 780 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Sheremeta // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#35. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 220 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Sewing machine operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 210 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 450 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 360 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 440 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 180 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 4,010 people (24.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $29,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: Not available

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 4,450 people (26.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#26. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 250 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Parking attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#24. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Library assistants, clerical (tie)

- Median annual wage: $29,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 280 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 860 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 410 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 820 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#18. Telemarketers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 200 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Recreation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 420 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 160 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 4,130 people (25.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nature's Charm // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 420 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 470 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 560 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 380 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 5,860 people (35.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $27,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 620 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $26,310
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 310 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $26,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.60
- Total employment: 620 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,930
- Median hourly wage: $11.99
- Total employment: 390 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#3. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $22,980
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 180 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $22,980
- Median hourly wage: $11.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $22,470
- Median hourly wage: $10.80
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $21,920
- Median hourly wage: $10.54
- Total employment: 120 people (0.74 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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