Lowest-paying jobs in Philadelphia

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#50. Passenger attendants

- Median annual wage: $35,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.09
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $35,430
- Median hourly wage: $17.03
- Total employment: 14,980 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $35,260
- Median hourly wage: $16.95
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $35,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 10,770 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Physical therapist aides (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 640 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $35,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.84
- Total employment: 530 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $35,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.83
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Dietetic technicians

- Median annual wage: $34,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 1,760 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $34,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.78
- Total employment: 2,610 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Religious workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,750
- Median hourly wage: $16.71
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $34,680
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 2,510 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $34,520
- Median hourly wage: $16.60
- Total employment: 5,560 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $34,410
- Median hourly wage: $16.54
- Total employment: 14,300 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Recreation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 5,380 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,050
- Median hourly wage: $16.37
- Total employment: 350 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,020
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 970 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.35
- Total employment: 160 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Demonstrators and product promoters

- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: $16.32
- Total employment: 430 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: $16.24
- Total employment: 9,860 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Animal caretakers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 5,680 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.17
- Total employment: 64,820 people (22.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Tour and travel guides

- Median annual wage: $33,610
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 870 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,500
- Median hourly wage: $16.11
- Total employment: 2,100 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Food preparation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 11,110 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Telemarketers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $33,280
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 340 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $32,970
- Median hourly wage: $15.85
- Total employment: 7,780 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Sewers, hand

- Median annual wage: $32,790
- Median hourly wage: $15.76
- Total employment: Not available

#22. Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $32,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.66
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $32,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.63
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $32,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 26,240 people (9.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Median annual wage: $32,100
- Median hourly wage: $15.44
- Total employment: 250 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $31,950
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 8,790 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $31,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 2,190 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $31,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.23
- Total employment: 8,340 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $31,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.20
- Total employment: 8,880 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Total employment: 3,310 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Cashiers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 54,450 people (18.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 8,760 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Fast food and counter workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,470
- Median hourly wage: $15.13
- Total employment: 63,800 people (22.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 7,500 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 9,920 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 520 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 6,600 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Shampooers

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 990 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 142,460 people (49.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 5,230 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $28,800
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 2,260 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,730
- Median hourly wage: $13.33
- Total employment: Not available

#1. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $26,550
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 1,550 people (0.54 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