Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 70 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Youngstown
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 Youngstown. 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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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $33,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 1,410 people (8.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $31,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,390
- Median hourly wage: $15.09
- Total employment: 390 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 2,680 people (16.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nataliia Maksymenko // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Slaughterers and meat packers
- Median annual wage: $31,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 350 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $30,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 1,050 people (6.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 470 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,770 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 1,630 people (10.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 170 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 250 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 3,530 people (22.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 140 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 4,470 people (27.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 740 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 280 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $28,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: Not available
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 470 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 640 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
31 / 50#19. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 300 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 210 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 200 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 290 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 900 people (5.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 780 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $27,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 300 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 500 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.17
- Total employment: 510 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 4,770 people (29.69 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: $27,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 6,530 people (40.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,140
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,680
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 480 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: $12.71
- Total employment: 440 people (2.72 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: $26,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.53
- Total employment: 130 people (0.83 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: $25,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.41
- Total employment: 460 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $24,690
- Median hourly wage: $11.87
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,890
- Median hourly wage: $11.01
- Total employment: 310 people (1.91 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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