Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $36,970
- Median hourly wage: $17.77
- Total employment: 1,270 people (19.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Harrisonburg
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 Harrisonburg. 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.
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Harrisonburg
worradirek // Shutterstock
2 / 50#48. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. School bus monitors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,730
- Median hourly wage: $17.66
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Allexxandar // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Agricultural technicians
- Median annual wage: $36,590
- Median hourly wage: $17.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $36,460
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 1,650 people (25.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Harrisonburg by diners
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $36,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.52
- Total employment: 690 people (10.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nataliia Maksymenko // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Slaughterers and meat packers
- Median annual wage: $36,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.49
- Total employment: 330 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $36,270
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 150 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $36,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.39
- Total employment: 790 people (12.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Harrisonburg this year
Finist4 // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Manicurists and pedicurists
- Median annual wage: $35,940
- Median hourly wage: $17.28
- Total employment: 70 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $35,900
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 100 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 400 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $35,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (7.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.02
- Total employment: 350 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Harrisonburg
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 200 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $35,170
- Median hourly wage: $16.91
- Total employment: 1,090 people (16.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 130 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Harrisonburg that don't require a college degree
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $34,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 80 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $33,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 80 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
nullplus // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $33,890
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 250 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 140 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 90 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Harrisonburg
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Tutors
- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 70 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $32,180
- Median hourly wage: $15.47
- Total employment: 130 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.46
- Total employment: 1,450 people (22.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $30,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 200 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 260 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Harrisonburg
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 200 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 1,840 people (28.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $30,150
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 550 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Harrisonburg by diners
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 140 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
encierro // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals
- Median annual wage: $29,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 80 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 110 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 2,470 people (37.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 1,480 people (22.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Harrisonburg area by diners
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,690
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 100 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 270 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $28,400
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 130 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 340 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.57
- Total employment: 170 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Harrisonburg
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 210 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $27,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 200 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $27,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 190 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.02
- Total employment: 720 people (11.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Coaches and scouts
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 500 people (7.64 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Harrisonburg area by diners
