Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $32,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Chattanooga
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 Chattanooga. 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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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,870
- Median hourly wage: $15.32
- Total employment: 930 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $31,830
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 220 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $31,360
- Median hourly wage: $15.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $31,300
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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giocalde // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Print binding and finishing workers
- Median annual wage: $31,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 840 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Special education teachers, preschool
- Median annual wage: $30,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Anucha Cheechang // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 3,990 people (14.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 490 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 2,410 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 6,910 people (25.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 210 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KarepaStock // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Grounds maintenance workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 380 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,230
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 230 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,170 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 110 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 630 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 1,090 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 150 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 800 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 550 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 1,480 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,220
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 360 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 180 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 230 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 370 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 5,560 people (20.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 990 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.20
- Total employment: 620 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 2,030 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 260 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 7,330 people (27.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $27,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,820
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 310 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,680
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 1,040 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $26,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 250 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $26,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.60
- Total employment: 4,920 people (18.26 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: $25,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.13
- Total employment: 150 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $24,200
- Median hourly wage: $11.64
- Total employment: 140 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $23,180
- Median hourly wage: $11.14
- Total employment: 980 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.10
- Total employment: 490 people (1.81 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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