wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Median annual wage: $38,280
- Median hourly wage: $18.40
- Total employment: 350 people (6.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Staunton
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 Staunton. 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.
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $37,940
- Median hourly wage: $18.24
- Total employment: 530 people (10.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $37,860
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 130 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $37,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.17
- Total employment: 140 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $37,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.16
- Total employment: 110 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $37,660
- Median hourly wage: $18.11
- Total employment: 170 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Customer service representatives
- Median annual wage: $37,540
- Median hourly wage: $18.05
- Total employment: 480 people (9.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Construction laborers
- Median annual wage: $37,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.99
- Total employment: 310 people (6.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
M2020 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#41. Helpers--electricians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,370
- Median hourly wage: $17.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $37,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (10.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $37,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.95
- Total employment: 580 people (11.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $37,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $37,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 180 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
alexkich // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Median annual wage: $36,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $36,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 110 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $36,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 1,250 people (24.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
18 / 50#32. Bartenders (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 220 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Waiters and waitresses (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,260
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Total employment: 690 people (13.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $36,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 130 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $35,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $35,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 60 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,030
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 270 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 410 people (8.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $34,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 500 people (9.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 100 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tong_stocker // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Helpers--carpenters
- Median annual wage: $34,200
- Median hourly wage: $16.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.81
- Total employment: 820 people (16.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 190 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 200 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $31,190
- Median hourly wage: $14.99
- Total employment: 80 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 140 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 1,350 people (26.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 170 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: Not available
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 320 people (6.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 150 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 110 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 100 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 1,280 people (25.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $27,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.37
- Total employment: 140 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $27,740
- Median hourly wage: $13.34
- Total employment: 1,070 people (21.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 1,410 people (27.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 110 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $26,730
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 370 people (7.33 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.
