zhu difeng // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 590 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Dayton
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 Dayton. 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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New Africa // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 2,160 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 3,220 people (8.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 250 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 560 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Broadcast technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 2,120 people (5.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 660 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
10 / 50#40. Crossing guards and flaggers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Carlovis // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Tour and travel guides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 5,540 people (14.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 300 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.29
- Total employment: 740 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $33,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.07
- Total employment: 140 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 690 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $33,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 620 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $32,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 150 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $32,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.69
- Total employment: 560 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 1,110 people (2.97 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: $31,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 5,930 people (15.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.89
- Total employment: 1,650 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 500 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $30,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 8,890 people (23.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. Telemarketers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 160 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 580 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 440 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 360 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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santypan // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 1,600 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 1,570 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
33 / 50#17. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 530 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physical therapist aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 890 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 1,270 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: Not available
aboutsung // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 840 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
39 / 50#11. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 740 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 1,210 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 720 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 7,890 people (21.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 13,650 people (36.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 390 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 1,000 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $26,430
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 320 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $25,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.48
- Total employment: 900 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 650 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Median annual wage: $23,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 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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