Lowest-paying jobs in Gettysburg

·Stacker

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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 Gettysburg. 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: Gettysburg's 2025 housing market year in review

#50. Nursing assistants

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $39,400
- Median hourly wage: $18.94
- Total employment: 370 people (11.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $39,390
- Median hourly wage: $18.94
- Total employment: 280 people (8.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Parts salespersons

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $39,370
- Median hourly wage: $18.93
- Total employment: 50 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

- Median annual wage: $39,180
- Median hourly wage: $18.84
- Total employment: Not available

#45. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $39,140
- Median hourly wage: $18.82
- Total employment: 150 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Office clerks, general

Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Office clerks, general

- Median annual wage: $39,050
- Median hourly wage: $18.78
- Total employment: 600 people (18.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Coaches and scouts

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Coaches and scouts

- Median annual wage: $38,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Counter and rental clerks

Standret // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $38,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.46
- Total employment: 90 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Tellers

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $38,030
- Median hourly wage: $18.28
- Total employment: 70 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Self-enrichment teachers

Kzenon // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $37,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 60 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

MAVV // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $37,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.86
- Total employment: 120 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $37,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 170 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Substitute teachers, short-term

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $35,770
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 40 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Gettysburg

#35. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 440 people (13.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Security guards

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $35,610
- Median hourly wage: $17.12
- Total employment: 160 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Pharmacy technicians

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Pharmacy technicians

- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 70 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $34,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 40 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Home health and personal care aides

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 330 people (10.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Gettysburg by diners

#30. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 250 people (7.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Cooks, restaurant

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $34,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 400 people (12.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Bakers

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 40 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $34,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 30 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $33,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (10.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Stockers and order fillers

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $32,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 350 people (10.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Recreation workers

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: 60 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 100 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Tour and travel guides

Carlovis // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 60 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Gettysburg

#20. Childcare workers

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $31,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 100 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Food preparation workers

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 130 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Driver/sales workers

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $30,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 110 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 60 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.15
- Total employment: 70 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 180 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Preschool teachers, except special education

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $29,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 90 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Waiters and waitresses

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 690 people (21.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 150 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Dishwashers

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 160 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

aboutsung // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 140 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Cashiers

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: 620 people (19.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Retail salespersons

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 1,030 people (31.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $27,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 130 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Cooks, fast food

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 70 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 160 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Bartenders

santypan // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 300 people (9.22 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 campgrounds in the Gettysburg area by visitors