UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $37,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Springfield, Ohio
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 Springfield. 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: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Springfield, Ohio area by diners
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 90 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 1,230 people (25.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $36,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 70 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 1,370 people (28.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Springfield, Ohio area by visitors
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $36,140
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 110 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 250 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (9.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $35,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 70 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $35,650
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Springfield, Ohio by diners
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $35,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 460 people (9.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 80 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $35,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 290 people (6.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.99
- Total employment: 580 people (12.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Springfield, Ohio area by diners
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.98
- Total employment: 480 people (10.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.97
- Total employment: 190 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 140 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 280 people (5.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $34,870
- Median hourly wage: $16.77
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Springfield, Ohio
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,740
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 340 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 110 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.61
- Total employment: 700 people (14.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $32,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 570 people (12.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 390 people (8.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Springfield, Ohio are looking to buy homes
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $31,700
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 70 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 90 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Springfield, Ohio
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 100 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 180 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 130 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 110 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Springfield, Ohio area by diners
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 190 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 110 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 1,080 people (22.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Springfield, Ohio
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 160 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 200 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 110 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 1,070 people (22.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Springfield, Ohio area by visitors
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 1,790 people (37.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,810
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 80 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 80 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $26,590
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: 230 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $23,600
- Median hourly wage: $11.35
- Total employment: 150 people (3.27 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: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Springfield, Ohio area by diners
