PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $37,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Williamsport
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 Williamsport. 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: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Williamsport and surrounding regions
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $37,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 120 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.90
- Total employment: 960 people (19.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $36,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $36,950
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 810 people (16.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Williamsport by diners
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $36,910
- Median hourly wage: $17.74
- Total employment: 180 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $36,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 60 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $36,640
- Median hourly wage: $17.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
guteksk7 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
- Median annual wage: $36,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 80 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 230 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Williamsport
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,850
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 150 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 170 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 980 people (19.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 130 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 120 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Williamsport
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $34,990
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 90 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $34,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 270 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $33,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.92
- Total employment: 70 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Williamsport
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.03
- Total employment: 140 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 540 people (10.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.74
- Total employment: 150 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 730 people (14.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Williamsport
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 80 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 130 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 180 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 1,320 people (26.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 170 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Williamsport
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 130 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 220 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 130 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 1,620 people (32.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Williamsport area by diners
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,390
- Median hourly wage: $13.65
- Total employment: 190 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#13. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 70 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 380 people (7.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 770 people (15.43 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: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 150 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Williamsport by diners
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 120 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 1,140 people (22.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $26,900
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $26,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Williamsport area by diners
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 1,120 people (22.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $25,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.38
- Total employment: 170 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $25,090
- Median hourly wage: $12.06
- Total employment: 120 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $24,490
- Median hourly wage: $11.77
- Total employment: 400 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,020
- Median hourly wage: $10.59
- Total employment: 100 people (1.92 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-paying jobs in Williamsport for high school graduates
