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1 / 50#50. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $32,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.80
- Total employment: 110 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Kingsport
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 Kingsport. 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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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cooks, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $32,380
- Median hourly wage: $15.57
- Total employment: 140 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $32,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $31,860
- Median hourly wage: $15.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $31,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.28
- Total employment: 270 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $31,600
- Median hourly wage: $15.19
- Total employment: 540 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $31,410
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 530 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 250 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Library technicians
- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $31,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 530 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $30,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 110 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $30,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 140 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 1,710 people (14.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,340
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 3,450 people (29.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ArtSvetlana // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 1,340 people (11.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krysja // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Funeral attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 80 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 300 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 670 people (5.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 190 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,360 people (11.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $28,300
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 240 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
29 / 50#21. Dishwashers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 300 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, fast food (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,290
- Median hourly wage: $13.60
- Total employment: 920 people (7.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Finist4 // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $28,190
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 100 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 1,940 people (16.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 770 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $27,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 120 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 150 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 210 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $27,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 180 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 3,030 people (25.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 230 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $26,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 250 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $26,840
- Median hourly wage: $12.90
- Total employment: 4,080 people (34.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $26,320
- Median hourly wage: $12.65
- Total employment: 320 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Motor vehicle operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $26,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 160 people (1.38 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: $25,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Physical therapist aides (tie)
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 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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