Lowest-paying jobs in Blacksburg

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#50. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $36,750
- Median hourly wage: $17.67
- Total employment: 130 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Customer service representatives

- Median annual wage: $36,350
- Median hourly wage: $17.48
- Total employment: 610 people (8.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Couriers and messengers

- Median annual wage: $36,300
- Median hourly wage: $17.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Helpers--electricians

- Median annual wage: $36,220
- Median hourly wage: $17.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan

- Median annual wage: $36,020
- Median hourly wage: $17.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $35,870
- Median hourly wage: $17.25
- Total employment: 310 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Light truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $35,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.21
- Total employment: 400 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Tellers

- Median annual wage: $35,740
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 160 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $35,150
- Median hourly wage: $16.90
- Total employment: 1,120 people (15.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $35,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.88
- Total employment: 740 people (9.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Preschool teachers, except special education

- Median annual wage: $34,860
- Median hourly wage: $16.76
- Total employment: 180 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $34,220
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 500 people (6.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $34,120
- Median hourly wage: $16.40
- Total employment: 150 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $33,960
- Median hourly wage: $16.33
- Total employment: 350 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $33,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (9.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Helpers--production workers

- Median annual wage: $33,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $33,530
- Median hourly wage: $16.12
- Total employment: 320 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $33,310
- Median hourly wage: $16.01
- Total employment: 1,460 people (19.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Funeral attendants

- Median annual wage: $33,260
- Median hourly wage: $15.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $33,200
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $32,720
- Median hourly wage: $15.73
- Total employment: Not available

#29. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers

- Median annual wage: $32,710
- Median hourly wage: $15.72
- Total employment: 70 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $32,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 120 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $32,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.43
- Total employment: 130 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $31,510
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: 180 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $31,110
- Median hourly wage: $14.96
- Total employment: 130 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $30,260
- Median hourly wage: $14.55
- Total employment: 110 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $30,250
- Median hourly wage: $14.54
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $30,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.53
- Total employment: 1,710 people (23.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $30,040
- Median hourly wage: $14.44
- Total employment: 1,290 people (17.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Cooks, short order

- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $29,710
- Median hourly wage: $14.29
- Total employment: 200 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $29,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 150 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $29,420
- Median hourly wage: $14.14
- Total employment: 170 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $28,950
- Median hourly wage: $13.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 110 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Food preparation workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $28,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.91
- Total employment: 310 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 570 people (7.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $28,120
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 140 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $28,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 160 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: $13.47
- Total employment: 170 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $27,990
- Median hourly wage: $13.46
- Total employment: 1,650 people (22.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $27,650
- Median hourly wage: $13.29
- Total employment: 970 people (13.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $27,600
- Median hourly wage: $13.27
- Total employment: 300 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Median annual wage: $27,540
- Median hourly wage: $13.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $27,340
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 260 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $26,690
- Median hourly wage: $12.83
- Total employment: 2,130 people (28.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Driver/sales workers

- Median annual wage: $26,540
- Median hourly wage: $12.76
- Total employment: 150 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 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