Lowest-paying jobs in Florence, South Carolina

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 Florence. 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.

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 1,230 people (13.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

#49. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 530 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $33,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photographee.eu // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Rehabilitation counselors

- Median annual wage: $32,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.78
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $32,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.65
- Total employment: 100 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $32,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 170 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $32,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.48
- Total employment: 280 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $31,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 450 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 100 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 140 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 120 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Orderlies

- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 190 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,720
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 330 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SGr // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $29,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.04
- Total employment: Not available

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22 / 50

#29. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 990 people (10.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $28,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.84
- Total employment: 2,750 people (30.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $28,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 360 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 100 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 370 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 100 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 520 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#17. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)

- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 310 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Dishwashers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 270 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 480 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $27,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 630 people (7.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 110 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $27,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.99
- Total employment: 1,310 people (14.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $26,810
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $26,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 1,980 people (22.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.55
- Total employment: 260 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $25,370
- Median hourly wage: $12.20
- Total employment: 2,700 people (29.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $23,370
- Median hourly wage: $11.24
- Total employment: 150 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $23,030
- Median hourly wage: $11.07
- Total employment: 2,780 people (30.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $22,730
- Median hourly wage: $10.93
- Total employment: 150 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $22,460
- Median hourly wage: $10.80
- Total employment: 430 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $19,410
- Median hourly wage: $9.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $19,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)