Lowest-paying jobs in Asheville

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#50. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,530
- Median hourly wage: $17.56
- Total employment: 1,060 people (5.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 310 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.40
- Total employment: 2,920 people (15.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $36,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 310 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $35,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 320 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 520 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $35,690
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 460 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Sales and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $35,440
- Median hourly wage: $17.04
- Total employment: 500 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 1,460 people (7.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.86
- Total employment: 120 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 230 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 160 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $34,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.73
- Total employment: 110 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $34,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 900 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 2,380 people (12.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.36
- Total employment: 550 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $33,830
- Median hourly wage: $16.27
- Total employment: 410 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 1,350 people (7.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $33,150
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 2,590 people (13.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,040
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 790 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $33,020
- Median hourly wage: $15.88
- Total employment: 420 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $32,730
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 480 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $32,450
- Median hourly wage: $15.60
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 650 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.54
- Total employment: 240 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.17
- Total employment: 190 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 190 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,880
- Median hourly wage: $14.85
- Total employment: 5,690 people (30.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $30,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 320 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 1,900 people (10.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 4,380 people (23.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $29,240
- Median hourly wage: $14.06
- Total employment: 4,410 people (23.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.03
- Total employment: 650 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,870
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 800 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,770
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 4,890 people (26.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,430 people (7.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 230 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,880
- Median hourly wage: $13.40
- Total employment: 590 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 3,130 people (16.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.13
- Total employment: 740 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $26,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.79
- Total employment: Not available

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $26,120
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 450 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $26,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.53
- Total employment: 140 people (0.75 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