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 Valdosta. 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.

ESB Basic // Shutterstock

#50. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $34,060
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 1,050 people (19.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#49. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $33,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#48. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $33,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.23
- Total employment: 610 people (11.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#47. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock

#46. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

- Median annual wage: $33,440
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 1,190 people (21.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#45. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 130 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#44. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $33,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 310 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#43. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $33,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 530 people (9.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#42. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 40 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#41. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $31,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: Not available

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#40. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $31,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.37
- Total employment: 230 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#39. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 190 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#38. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,760
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 510 people (9.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#37. Counter and rental clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.79
- Total employment: 160 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#36. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $30,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 130 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#35. Pest control workers

- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 60 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#34. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#33. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $30,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.57
- Total employment: 280 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#32. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $29,600
- Median hourly wage: $14.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#31. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#30. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $29,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.12
- Total employment: 120 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#29. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 70 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#28. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 140 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#27. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,120
- Median hourly wage: $14.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#26. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $29,090
- Median hourly wage: $13.99
- Total employment: 300 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: $13.93
- Total employment: 680 people (12.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#24. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 200 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DSBfoto // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $28,410
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 620 people (11.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#22. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $28,370
- Median hourly wage: $13.64
- Total employment: 110 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

#21. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 80 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#20. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $27,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.02
- Total employment: 140 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $26,990
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 90 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: $12.81
- Total employment: 2,040 people (37.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

#17. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $26,490
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: 100 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#16. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $26,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (9.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $25,560
- Median hourly wage: $12.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#14. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $25,430
- Median hourly wage: $12.23
- Total employment: 360 people (6.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#13. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $24,400
- Median hourly wage: $11.73
- Total employment: 620 people (11.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#12. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $24,340
- Median hourly wage: $11.70
- Total employment: 160 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#11. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $24,260
- Median hourly wage: $11.66
- Total employment: 1,400 people (25.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $24,230
- Median hourly wage: $11.65
- Total employment: 80 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#9. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $24,080
- Median hourly wage: $11.58
- Total employment: 100 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

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

- Median annual wage: $23,730
- Median hourly wage: $11.41
- Total employment: 190 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $23,630
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 120 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

#6. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $22,920
- Median hourly wage: $11.02
- Total employment: 2,700 people (49.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#5. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $22,610
- Median hourly wage: $10.87
- Total employment: 500 people (9.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#4. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $21,500
- Median hourly wage: $10.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

#3. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $20,290
- Median hourly wage: $9.75
- Total employment: 130 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $18,910
- Median hourly wage: $9.09
- Total employment: 190 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#1. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $17,620
- Median hourly wage: $8.47
- Total employment: 1,050 people (19.3 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.