fizkes // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $35,980
- Median hourly wage: $17.30
- Total employment: 40 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Victoria
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 Victoria. 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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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.29
- Total employment: 90 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $35,820
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $35,700
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peakstock // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $35,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.15
- Total employment: 60 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,110
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 140 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 560 people (14.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Phlebotomists
- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 60 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $34,950
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 70 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $34,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $34,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 60 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $34,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 100 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $34,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 60 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 60 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $33,660
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 460 people (11.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DuxX // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $32,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $32,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 180 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $32,460
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $32,000
- Median hourly wage: $15.39
- Total employment: 130 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $31,820
- Median hourly wage: $15.30
- Total employment: 130 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Median annual wage: $31,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 300 people (7.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 150 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Emergency medical technicians
- Median annual wage: $30,900
- Median hourly wage: $14.86
- Total employment: 60 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 380 people (9.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $30,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 260 people (6.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 60 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 390 people (10.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 380 people (9.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $28,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $28,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.72
- Total employment: 1,330 people (34.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 420 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $28,180
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 200 people (5.14 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: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 80 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 1,060 people (27.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $26,880
- Median hourly wage: $12.92
- Total employment: 90 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 500 people (13.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 80 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $26,330
- Median hourly wage: $12.66
- Total employment: 200 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $26,220
- Median hourly wage: $12.61
- Total employment: 120 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,170
- Median hourly wage: $12.58
- Total employment: 130 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $25,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.04
- Total employment: 140 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $24,690
- Median hourly wage: $11.87
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $24,540
- Median hourly wage: $11.80
- Total employment: 700 people (18.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $23,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.10
- Total employment: 1,270 people (33.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $22,960
- Median hourly wage: $11.04
- Total employment: 560 people (14.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $22,770
- Median hourly wage: $10.95
- Total employment: 170 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $22,450
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 60 people (1.65 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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