Lowest-paying jobs in Charleston, West Virginia

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 Charleston. 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.

Standret // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 250 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 110 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $30,940
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 1,210 people (11.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.80
- Total employment: 260 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: Not available

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 100 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 200 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 530 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 1,390 people (13.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,740
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 800 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 920 people (8.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $29,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 390 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: Not available

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 140 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $28,920
- Median hourly wage: $13.90
- Total employment: 100 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,820
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 770 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,720
- Median hourly wage: $13.81
- Total employment: 220 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $28,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 700 people (6.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (6.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#27. Bartenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 310 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Preschool teachers, except special education (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,550
- Median hourly wage: $13.73
- Total employment: 260 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 120 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $28,430
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 120 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,240
- Median hourly wage: $13.58
- Total employment: 830 people (7.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $27,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 160 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 220 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 180 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 2,490 people (23.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 350 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 2,940 people (27.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $26,700
- Median hourly wage: $12.84
- Total employment: 110 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $25,810
- Median hourly wage: $12.41
- Total employment: 220 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Median annual wage: $25,200
- Median hourly wage: $12.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $25,090
- Median hourly wage: $12.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $24,090
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 150 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $23,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 2,150 people (20.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $23,490
- Median hourly wage: $11.29
- Total employment: 720 people (6.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,410
- Median hourly wage: $11.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,280
- Median hourly wage: $11.19
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $23,190
- Median hourly wage: $11.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $23,120
- Median hourly wage: $11.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $22,950
- Median hourly wage: $11.03
- Total employment: 2,410 people (22.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)