Lowest-paying jobs in Knoxville

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#50. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $32,240
- Median hourly wage: $15.50
- Total employment: 460 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $31,850
- Median hourly wage: $15.31
- Total employment: 1,410 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.25
- Total employment: 410 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $31,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.24
- Total employment: 600 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Switchboard operators, including answering service

- Median annual wage: $31,570
- Median hourly wage: $15.18
- Total employment: 110 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Baggage porters and bellhops (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Library assistants, clerical (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $30,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 3,060 people (7.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 580 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $30,820
- Median hourly wage: $14.82
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 150 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 280 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Retail salespersons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 11,980 people (28.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Motor vehicle operators, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $30,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.48
- Total employment: 270 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $30,060
- Median hourly wage: $14.45
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,000
- Median hourly wage: $14.42
- Total employment: 960 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,960
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 220 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,770
- Median hourly wage: $14.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 5,340 people (12.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $29,660
- Median hourly wage: $14.26
- Total employment: 430 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $29,550
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 490 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 6,910 people (16.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $29,310
- Median hourly wage: $14.09
- Total employment: 1,710 people (4.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $29,290
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 850 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $29,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.96
- Total employment: 1,820 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Agricultural workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $29,010
- Median hourly wage: $13.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Concierges

- Median annual wage: $28,850
- Median hourly wage: $13.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,670
- Median hourly wage: $13.78
- Total employment: 2,250 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $28,640
- Median hourly wage: $13.77
- Total employment: 870 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 270 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,450
- Median hourly wage: $13.68
- Total employment: 610 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 7,410 people (17.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $28,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.50
- Total employment: 1,540 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,910
- Median hourly wage: $13.42
- Total employment: 9,140 people (21.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 11,200 people (26.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Parking attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,470
- Median hourly wage: $13.21
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.12
- Total employment: 130 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $27,230
- Median hourly wage: $13.09
- Total employment: 270 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $27,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $26,760
- Median hourly wage: $12.86
- Total employment: 2,890 people (6.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $25,350
- Median hourly wage: $12.19
- Total employment: 220 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $25,160
- Median hourly wage: $12.10
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $23,630
- Median hourly wage: $11.36
- Total employment: 660 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $23,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,010 people (7.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $22,270
- Median hourly wage: $10.71
- Total employment: 1,570 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Telemarketers

- Median annual wage: $21,250
- Median hourly wage: $10.21
- Total employment: 340 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $19,760
- Median hourly wage: $9.50
- Total employment: 340 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $18,240
- Median hourly wage: $8.77
- Total employment: 1,160 people (2.77 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