Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Median annual wage: $32,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Greenville
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 Greenville. 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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Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,680
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 350 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 110 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $31,630
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 790 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,500
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 1,630 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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NIKCOA // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $31,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 750 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.77
- Total employment: 410 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 520 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 250 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parking attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $30,270
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.36
- Total employment: 920 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 120 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 530 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 380 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 12,150 people (28.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 3,060 people (7.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 790 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 1,770 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 1,230 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 6,690 people (15.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 640 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 7,090 people (16.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,020 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 2,010 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jason Person // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 210 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suteren // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dietetic technicians
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 1,910 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 10,620 people (24.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 340 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $27,630
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 11,590 people (27.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $26,610
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: 120 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.77
- Total employment: Not available
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ITisha // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $26,360
- Median hourly wage: $12.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,140
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 1,040 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $25,810
- Median hourly wage: $12.41
- Total employment: 1,210 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $25,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.33
- Total employment: 170 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $25,520
- Median hourly wage: $12.27
- Total employment: 580 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $23,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.48
- Total employment: 1,590 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
- Median annual wage: $19,630
- Median hourly wage: $9.44
- Total employment: 100 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $19,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $18,520
- Median hourly wage: $8.91
- Total employment: 7,820 people (18.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $18,380
- Median hourly wage: $8.84
- Total employment: 1,850 people (4.32 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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