Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Clarksville
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 Clarksville. 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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Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $34,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 90 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $34,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $33,540
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 150 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $32,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 200 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $32,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.54
- Total employment: 150 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $32,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,000 people (9.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 230 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 1,250 people (12.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $30,430
- Median hourly wage: $14.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 870 people (8.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $30,300
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 470 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,200
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.49
- Total employment: 520 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,080
- Median hourly wage: $14.46
- Total employment: 90 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,970
- Median hourly wage: $14.41
- Total employment: 170 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 1,240 people (12.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 250 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Finist4 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 240 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 3,060 people (30.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 130 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 250 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 510 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 160 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 200 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,510
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 730 people (7.22 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: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 380 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.19
- Total employment: 210 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 3,580 people (35.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 2,960 people (29.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,620
- Median hourly wage: $12.80
- Total employment: 230 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $26,250
- Median hourly wage: $12.62
- Total employment: 910 people (9.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,010
- Median hourly wage: $12.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $25,970
- Median hourly wage: $12.49
- Total employment: 1,760 people (17.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $25,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.45
- Total employment: 880 people (8.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $24,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.74
- Total employment: 340 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $24,160
- Median hourly wage: $11.61
- Total employment: 430 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $23,870
- Median hourly wage: $11.48
- Total employment: 120 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $23,500
- Median hourly wage: $11.30
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $22,650
- Median hourly wage: $10.89
- Total employment: 340 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $21,700
- Median hourly wage: $10.44
- Total employment: 140 people (1.43 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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