Lowest-paying jobs in Roanoke

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 Roanoke. 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.

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $34,640
- Median hourly wage: $16.66
- Total employment: 130 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leika production // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $34,350
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 70 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $34,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.47
- Total employment: 2,960 people (19.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksandr Rybalko // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $33,920
- Median hourly wage: $16.31
- Total employment: 410 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $33,730
- Median hourly wage: $16.22
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

MAVV // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

- Median annual wage: $33,700
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $33,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.19
- Total employment: 1,630 people (10.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys

- Median annual wage: $33,480
- Median hourly wage: $16.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $33,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 220 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $32,710
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carlovis // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $32,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.28
- Total employment: 980 people (6.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $31,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 360 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,280
- Median hourly wage: $15.04
- Total employment: 470 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 2,090 people (13.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $30,980
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 450 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $30,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.88
- Total employment: 230 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $30,570
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 140 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $30,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.68
- Total employment: 290 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $30,400
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 160 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VH-studio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 160 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krysja // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 160 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $30,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 220 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service

- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,790
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 4,380 people (28.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 130 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $29,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 410 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 340 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.11
- Total employment: 300 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 450 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Efired // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Bill and account collectors

- Median annual wage: $29,020
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 160 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 900 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.63
- Total employment: 380 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 3,310 people (21.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 280 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,150
- Median hourly wage: $13.53
- Total employment: 90 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.48
- Total employment: 330 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Coaches and scouts

- Median annual wage: $27,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,790
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 510 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.35
- Total employment: 680 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 2,160 people (14.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $27,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 160 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 370 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.06
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,150
- Median hourly wage: $13.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 270 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $26,990
- Median hourly wage: $12.97
- Total employment: 3,430 people (22.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jason Person // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $26,250
- Median hourly wage: $12.62
- Total employment: 100 people (0.65 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.