Lowest-paying jobs in Charlotte

Stacker
#50. Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $34,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.74
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $34,760
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 4,350 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,460
- Median hourly wage: $16.57
- Total employment: 13,500 people (10.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 200 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 3,850 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 330 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,600
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 850 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $33,230
- Median hourly wage: $15.98
- Total employment: 510 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $33,160
- Median hourly wage: $15.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $33,070
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 260 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $32,810
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 710 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $32,590
- Median hourly wage: $15.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 1,370 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Costume attendants

- Median annual wage: $32,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,120
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Woodworkers, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $31,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.12
- Total employment: 34,980 people (26.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,310
- Median hourly wage: $15.05
- Total employment: 1,970 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 630 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 1,180 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 1,990 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $31,010
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 13,720 people (10.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $30,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 7,840 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $30,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: Not available

#24. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 280 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 5,470 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $30,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.69
- Total employment: 3,100 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 3,690 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 310 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 3,040 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $29,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.24
- Total employment: 4,140 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $29,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: Not available

#16. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 24,400 people (18.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $29,060
- Median hourly wage: $13.97
- Total employment: 2,820 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 20,100 people (14.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $28,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 4,010 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $28,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.86
- Total employment: 29,200 people (21.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $28,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.80
- Total employment: 620 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 3,910 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $28,490
- Median hourly wage: $13.70
- Total employment: 1,910 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,570 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,310
- Median hourly wage: $13.61
- Total employment: 18,560 people (13.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,210
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,830
- Median hourly wage: $13.38
- Total employment: 4,150 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,360
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 1,840 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $26,050
- Median hourly wage: $12.52
- Total employment: 430 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $24,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $18,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 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