Kzenon // Shutterstock
1 / 50#49. Self-enrichment teachers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 420 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Toledo
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 Toledo. 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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Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Orderlies (tie)
- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 120 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 210 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Broadcast technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 1,680 people (5.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.43
- Total employment: 520 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $34,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 4,440 people (15.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $33,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.28
- Total employment: 3,280 people (11.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,590
- Median hourly wage: $16.15
- Total employment: Not available
MAVV // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 330 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 990 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,600
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 730 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $31,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 300 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $31,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 140 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 330 people (1.12 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: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 4,540 people (15.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 6,790 people (23.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $30,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 260 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 380 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
28 / 50#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 330 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 660 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 310 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Demonstrators and product promoters
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 1,590 people (5.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,380
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 1,230 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 530 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 610 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 5,960 people (20.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 160 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 870 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 990 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 580 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 180 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $28,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 1,360 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,560
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 640 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 750 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,980
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 170 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 8,430 people (28.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 1,060 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,830
- Median hourly wage: $12.42
- Total employment: 380 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $23,650
- Median hourly wage: $11.37
- Total employment: 260 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $21,740
- Median hourly wage: $10.45
- Total employment: 1,300 people (4.47 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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