Lowest-paying jobs in Lakeland

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#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $34,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 420 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 300 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 210 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 300 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 170 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Floral designers

- Median annual wage: $33,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 330 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 1,760 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 220 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Material moving workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $32,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Helpers--roofers

- Median annual wage: $32,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 390 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $31,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 820 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: Not available

#32. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $31,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 520 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 2,150 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 1,610 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 760 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 8,040 people (30.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 3,560 people (13.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 340 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 690 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 310 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 2,320 people (8.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Conveyor operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 520 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 360 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 420 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 3,620 people (13.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 650 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 310 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 520 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 5,410 people (20.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Graders and sorters, agricultural products (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 870 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 520 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,740 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 870 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 630 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 7,590 people (29.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $27,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 200 people (0.78 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