Lowest-paying jobs in Columbus

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#50. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,510
- Median hourly wage: $17.07
- Total employment: 9,240 people (8.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $35,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,720 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Designers, all other

- Median annual wage: $35,360
- Median hourly wage: $17.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $35,080
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 14,130 people (13.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 3,000 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Concierges (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.69
- Total employment: 1,920 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $34,400
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,360
- Median hourly wage: $16.52
- Total employment: 670 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $34,070
- Median hourly wage: $16.38
- Total employment: 260 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $33,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.33
- Total employment: 2,820 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $33,780
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 1,540 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $33,450
- Median hourly wage: $16.08
- Total employment: 3,640 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 1,880 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators

- Median annual wage: $33,140
- Median hourly wage: $15.93
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $32,760
- Median hourly wage: $15.75
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $32,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.70
- Total employment: 1,710 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Library assistants, clerical

- Median annual wage: $32,560
- Median hourly wage: $15.66
- Total employment: 590 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $31,910
- Median hourly wage: $15.34
- Total employment: 5,070 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $31,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 4,810 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,420
- Median hourly wage: $15.11
- Total employment: 1,150 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $31,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 25,780 people (23.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $31,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 25,540 people (23.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 4,790 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 2,450 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $30,580
- Median hourly wage: $14.70
- Total employment: 2,070 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $30,370
- Median hourly wage: $14.60
- Total employment: 820 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,350
- Median hourly wage: $14.59
- Total employment: 590 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $30,210
- Median hourly wage: $14.52
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $30,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.43
- Total employment: 2,390 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Athletes and sports competitors

- Median annual wage: $29,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,810
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $29,640
- Median hourly wage: $14.25
- Total employment: 2,650 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,440
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: Not available

#12. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $29,330
- Median hourly wage: $14.10
- Total employment: 19,300 people (17.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 310 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 32,270 people (29.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.75
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $28,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.62
- Total employment: 2,950 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.49
- Total employment: 3,040 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 540 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,520
- Median hourly wage: $13.23
- Total employment: 3,560 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $27,040
- Median hourly wage: $13.00
- Total employment: 740 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $26,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,760
- Median hourly wage: $11.90
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Occupational therapy aides

- Median annual wage: $22,500
- Median hourly wage: $10.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 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