Lowest-paying jobs in Birmingham

Stacker
#50. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Median annual wage: $31,710
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 670 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Library assistants, clerical (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 240 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,320
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 570 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Tour and travel guides (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Cooks, restaurant (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 4,760 people (9.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Tutors

- Median annual wage: $31,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.98
- Total employment: 310 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $31,070
- Median hourly wage: $14.94
- Total employment: Not available

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

- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 5,360 people (10.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 15,150 people (29.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 780 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Security guards

- Median annual wage: $29,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 5,520 people (10.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 310 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: Not available

#37. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.18
- Total employment: 660 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,050
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 550 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: Not available

#32. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $28,710
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 800 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 320 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $28,530
- Median hourly wage: $13.71
- Total employment: 1,510 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 11,300 people (21.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,270
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 1,420 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $28,080
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 510 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $28,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 4,280 people (8.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $28,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 510 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 420 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $27,970
- Median hourly wage: $13.45
- Total employment: 1,720 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $27,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 3,750 people (7.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 5,590 people (10.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $27,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.26
- Total employment: 190 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials

- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 2,360 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $26,580
- Median hourly wage: $12.78
- Total employment: 1,380 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $26,500
- Median hourly wage: $12.74
- Total employment: Not available

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

- Median annual wage: $26,450
- Median hourly wage: $12.72
- Total employment: 1,090 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $25,430
- Median hourly wage: $12.23
- Total employment: 9,100 people (17.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $24,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $24,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,390 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $24,500
- Median hourly wage: $11.78
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $23,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 800 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Bartenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $23,430
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 1,470 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $22,710
- Median hourly wage: $10.92
- Total employment: 1,040 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $22,430
- Median hourly wage: $10.79
- Total employment: 1,760 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $21,930
- Median hourly wage: $10.54
- Total employment: 6,820 people (13.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $21,040
- Median hourly wage: $10.11
- Total employment: 290 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $19,960
- Median hourly wage: $9.59
- Total employment: Not available

#1. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $18,550
- Median hourly wage: $8.92
- Total employment: 2,080 people (4.01 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.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock