Lowest-paying jobs in Durham

Stacker
#50. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $36,920
- Median hourly wage: $17.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $36,880
- Median hourly wage: $17.73
- Total employment: 310 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $36,500
- Median hourly wage: $17.55
- Total employment: 2,580 people (7.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Order clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,470
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 150 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $36,450
- Median hourly wage: $17.53
- Total employment: 4,980 people (14.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 610 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $36,130
- Median hourly wage: $17.37
- Total employment: 3,780 people (11.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $36,070
- Median hourly wage: $17.34
- Total employment: 170 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $36,040
- Median hourly wage: $17.33
- Total employment: 2,530 people (7.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $36,010
- Median hourly wage: $17.31
- Total employment: 350 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 1,050 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $35,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 220 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.14
- Total employment: 3,640 people (10.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,390
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,130
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 590 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,850
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 1,180 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Tire repairers and changers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 210 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,380
- Median hourly wage: $16.53
- Total employment: 490 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $34,330
- Median hourly wage: $16.51
- Total employment: 550 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $34,320
- Median hourly wage: $16.50
- Total employment: 360 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.46
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 350 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $32,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.84
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $32,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 720 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $32,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 250 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $31,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.38
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $31,770
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $31,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,680
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 1,050 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Telemarketers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,680
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,540
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.14
- Total employment: 420 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $31,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.10
- Total employment: 3,000 people (8.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,330
- Median hourly wage: $15.06
- Total employment: 1,130 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 5,630 people (16.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 610 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 330 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $30,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.56
- Total employment: 690 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: $14.32
- Total employment: 3,650 people (10.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $29,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.22
- Total employment: 4,980 people (14.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 260 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: Not available

#7. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $29,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.98
- Total employment: 5,150 people (15.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $28,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,950 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $28,760
- Median hourly wage: $13.83
- Total employment: 4,440 people (12.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,160
- Median hourly wage: $13.54
- Total employment: 660 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,660
- Median hourly wage: $13.30
- Total employment: 670 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Medical transcriptionists

- Median annual wage: $25,650
- Median hourly wage: $12.33
- Total employment: 240 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $22,560
- Median hourly wage: $10.85
- Total employment: 460 people (1.36 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