wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 770 people (9.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Jackson, Tennessee
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 Jackson. 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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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,250
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 490 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 940 people (11.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $34,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 190 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 130 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 450 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 490 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,570
- Median hourly wage: $16.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $33,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 120 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $33,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 170 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Order clerks
- Median annual wage: $33,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $33,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.87
- Total employment: 1,640 people (19.48 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: $32,010
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 530 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,920
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 180 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $31,880
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 70 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 330 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 130 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 260 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 790 people (9.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 150 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 2,270 people (26.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
29 / 50#21. Home health and personal care aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 2,160 people (25.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Animal caretakers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 110 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $29,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 290 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Orderlies
- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: Not available
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 480 people (5.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 780 people (9.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 190 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 580 people (6.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $27,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.07
- Total employment: 160 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $26,930
- Median hourly wage: $12.95
- Total employment: 1,930 people (22.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 2,200 people (26.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,020
- Median hourly wage: $12.51
- Total employment: 360 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $25,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.48
- Total employment: 760 people (8.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $24,300
- Median hourly wage: $11.69
- Total employment: 90 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $23,990
- Median hourly wage: $11.53
- Total employment: 200 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,280
- Median hourly wage: $10.71
- Total employment: 930 people (11.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $22,270
- Median hourly wage: $10.71
- Total employment: 110 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $21,630
- Median hourly wage: $10.40
- Total employment: 170 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Adwo // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Painting, coating, and decorating workers
- Median annual wage: $18,890
- Median hourly wage: $9.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 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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