Lowest-paying jobs in Philadelphia

·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 Philadelphia. 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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#50. Passenger attendants

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1 / 50

#50. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Preschool teachers, except special education

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2 / 50

#49. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 14,980 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

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3 / 50

#48. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $35,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

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4 / 50

#47. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $35,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 10,770 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Physical therapist aides (tie)

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5 / 50

#45. Physical therapist aides (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 640 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 530 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. School bus monitors

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7 / 50

#44. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Dietetic technicians

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8 / 50

#43. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Sewing machine operators

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9 / 50

#42. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 1,760 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

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10 / 50

#41. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 2,610 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Religious workers, all other

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11 / 50

#40. Religious workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Protective service workers, all other

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12 / 50

#39. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 2,510 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

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13 / 50

#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 5,560 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Bartenders

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14 / 50

#37. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 14,300 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)

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16 / 50

#35. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 350 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

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17 / 50

#34. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 970 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

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18 / 50

#33. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 160 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Demonstrators and product promoters

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19 / 50

#32. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 430 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

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20 / 50

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 9,860 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#29. Animal caretakers (tie)

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21 / 50

#29. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 5,680 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Retail salespersons (tie)

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22 / 50

#29. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 64,820 people (22.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Tour and travel guides

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23 / 50

#28. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 870 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

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24 / 50

#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.11
- Total employment: 2,100 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Telemarketers (tie)

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26 / 50

#25. Telemarketers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 340 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Driver/sales workers

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27 / 50

#24. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 7,780 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Sewers, hand

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28 / 50

#23. Sewers, hand

- Median annual wage: $32,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: Not available

#22. Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders

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29 / 50

#22. Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $32,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.66
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

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31 / 50

#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 26,240 people (9.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Baggage porters and bellhops

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32 / 50

#19. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 250 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant

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33 / 50

#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 8,790 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

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34 / 50

#17. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $31,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 2,190 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Dishwashers

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36 / 50

#15. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 8,880 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Parking attendants

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37 / 50

#14. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 3,310 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Cashiers (tie)

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38 / 50

#11. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 54,450 people (18.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

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39 / 50

#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 8,760 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)

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41 / 50

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 7,500 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)

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42 / 50

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 9,920 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Motor vehicle operators, all other

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43 / 50

#8. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 520 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Manicurists and pedicurists

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44 / 50

#7. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 6,600 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Home health and personal care aides

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46 / 50

#5. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 142,460 people (49.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Cooks, fast food

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47 / 50

#4. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 5,230 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

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48 / 50

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 2,260 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Transportation workers, all other

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49 / 50

#2. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: Not available

#1. Personal care and service workers, all other

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50 / 50

#1. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 1,550 people (0.54 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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