Syda Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $35,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 200 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Altoona
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 Altoona. 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 restaurants in Altoona by diners
Efired // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 250 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 110 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 210 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Altoona in the last week
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,650
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 260 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $34,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.58
- Total employment: 510 people (8.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $34,430
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 270 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Altoona
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $34,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.42
- Total employment: 140 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 70 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.95
- Total employment: 400 people (6.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 160 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Altoona area by diners
Leika production // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $32,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 200 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 850 people (14.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $31,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.32
- Total employment: 1,190 people (20.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 550 people (9.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Altoona that require a bachelor's degree
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $30,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 270 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 310 people (5.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 200 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 150 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Altoona
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: 90 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 120 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 1,720 people (29.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 300 people (5.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 60 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Altoona that require a bachelor's degree
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 2,070 people (35.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
33 / 50#17. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (7.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Altoona metro area
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 220 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $26,940
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 190 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,920
- Median hourly wage: $12.94
- Total employment: 200 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $26,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 230 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Altoona
aboutsung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.77
- Total employment: 220 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.77
- Total employment: 820 people (14.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,520
- Median hourly wage: $12.75
- Total employment: 190 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 1,630 people (28.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Altoona
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 1,570 people (27.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $25,430
- Median hourly wage: $12.23
- Total employment: 190 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $24,890
- Median hourly wage: $11.97
- Total employment: 70 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $24,710
- Median hourly wage: $11.88
- Total employment: 280 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,780
- Median hourly wage: $10.47
- Total employment: 380 people (6.47 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.
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Altoona?
