UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $37,150
- Median hourly wage: $17.86
- Total employment: 90 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in State College
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 State College. 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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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
2 / 50#48. Emergency medical technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.85
- Total employment: 130 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Counter and rental clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,120
- Median hourly wage: $17.84
- Total employment: 130 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $37,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Total employment: 220 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $36,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ESB Basic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 900 people (13.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 170 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 160 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $35,480
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 260 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 740 people (10.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $34,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 1,190 people (17.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,420
- Median hourly wage: $16.55
- Total employment: 80 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $34,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 140 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 1,010 people (14.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 430 people (6.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,810
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 120 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $33,770
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,700
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 130 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,290
- Median hourly wage: $15.53
- Total employment: 400 people (5.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 180 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $31,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 200 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,370
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 320 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 270 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.78
- Total employment: 140 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (7.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 1,370 people (19.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 210 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 200 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 1,300 people (18.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 1,690 people (24.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.82
- Total employment: 170 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 230 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 1,280 people (18.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 280 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 250 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 1,780 people (25.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
47 / 50#3. Cooks, fast food (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 230 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Bartenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 500 people (7.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,400
- Median hourly wage: $12.69
- Total employment: 140 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,540
- Median hourly wage: $10.84
- Total employment: 120 people (1.74 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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