Lowest-paying jobs in Harrisburg

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 Harrisburg. 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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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 4,430 people (13.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 230 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 420 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#46. Recreational therapists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.81
- Total employment: 390 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $34,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: Not available

encierro // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $34,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 730 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $34,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 120 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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MAVV // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 170 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. Floral designers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Funeral attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suteren // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 120 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $32,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 280 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 450 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 1,590 people (4.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 750 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 210 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Carlovis // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 690 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 80 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 7,420 people (22.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 1,080 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 1,610 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 540 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,080 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 1,060 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VH-studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 190 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 4,120 people (12.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 120 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys

- Median annual wage: $29,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 990 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 920 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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aboutsung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 880 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 11,900 people (35.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 5,710 people (17.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $28,460
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 890 people (2.68 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: $28,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 7,420 people (22.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 610 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $28,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 820 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 210 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 430 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.02
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $27,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 1,710 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $26,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)