GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $38,790
- Median hourly wage: $18.65
- Total employment: 690 people (10.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Winchester
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 Winchester. 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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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $38,590
- Median hourly wage: $18.56
- Total employment: 1,110 people (16.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $38,580
- Median hourly wage: $18.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $38,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $38,350
- Median hourly wage: $18.44
- Total employment: 220 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $38,260
- Median hourly wage: $18.39
- Total employment: 200 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $38,130
- Median hourly wage: $18.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $37,570
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 220 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Noin90650 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
- Median annual wage: $37,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $37,280
- Median hourly wage: $17.92
- Total employment: 370 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $37,230
- Median hourly wage: $17.90
- Total employment: 90 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Stockers and order fillers
- Median annual wage: $37,090
- Median hourly wage: $17.83
- Total employment: 1,990 people (29.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $36,760
- Median hourly wage: $17.68
- Total employment: 130 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $36,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $36,560
- Median hourly wage: $17.58
- Total employment: 190 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $36,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (8.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $36,210
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 370 people (5.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.24
- Total employment: 220 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,810
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 200 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 390 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $35,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.93
- Total employment: 60 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,980
- Median hourly wage: $16.82
- Total employment: 640 people (9.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $34,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.70
- Total employment: 470 people (6.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 1,040 people (15.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,300
- Median hourly wage: $16.49
- Total employment: 230 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $34,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 150 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,050
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Total employment: 120 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $32,750
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 200 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DSBfoto // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 1,010 people (14.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,580
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 110 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.75
- Total employment: 130 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $30,320
- Median hourly wage: $14.58
- Total employment: 240 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 2,290 people (33.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.28
- Total employment: 100 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,650
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 130 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $29,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 1,080 people (15.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $29,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.13
- Total employment: 110 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $29,180
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 190 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 170 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $29,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,560 people (22.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $28,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 1,610 people (23.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $27,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.44
- Total employment: 350 people (5.06 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: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 160 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $26,070
- Median hourly wage: $12.53
- Total employment: 100 people (1.47 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: 260 people (3.76 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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