Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.
However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.
With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.
Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.
It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Lakeland. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
zhu difeng // Shutterstock
#50. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $34,210
- Median hourly wage: $16.45
- Total employment: 420 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
#49. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $34,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.41
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
#48. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $34,100
- Median hourly wage: $16.39
- Total employment: 300 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
#47. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $34,000
- Median hourly wage: $16.34
- Total employment: 210 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#46. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Median annual wage: $33,820
- Median hourly wage: $16.26
- Total employment: 300 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $33,800
- Median hourly wage: $16.25
- Total employment: 170 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shakirov Albert // Shutterstock
#44. Floral designers
- Median annual wage: $33,620
- Median hourly wage: $16.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
#43. Recreation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,470
- Median hourly wage: $16.09
- Total employment: 330 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
#42. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,390
- Median hourly wage: $16.05
- Total employment: 1,760 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
#41. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $33,290
- Median hourly wage: $16.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
#40. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $33,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
#39. School bus monitors
- Median annual wage: $32,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.83
- Total employment: 220 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#38. Material moving workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $32,690
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jason Person // Shutterstock
#37. Cooks, short order
- Median annual wage: $32,430
- Median hourly wage: $15.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
#36. Helpers--roofers
- Median annual wage: $32,060
- Median hourly wage: $15.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
#35. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $31,890
- Median hourly wage: $15.33
- Total employment: 390 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#34. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $31,740
- Median hourly wage: $15.26
- Total employment: 820 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
#33. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $31,520
- Median hourly wage: $15.15
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
#32. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $31,100
- Median hourly wage: $14.95
- Total employment: 520 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
#31. Library assistants, clerical
- Median annual wage: $30,990
- Median hourly wage: $14.90
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
#30. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $30,870
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 2,150 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
#29. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $30,840
- Median hourly wage: $14.83
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#28. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,620
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 1,610 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#27. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $30,610
- Median hourly wage: $14.72
- Total employment: 760 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#26. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 8,040 people (30.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
#25. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $30,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 3,560 people (13.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
#24. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,920
- Median hourly wage: $14.39
- Total employment: 340 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
#23. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $29,830
- Median hourly wage: $14.34
- Total employment: 690 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $29,730
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 310 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
#21. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $29,670
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 2,320 people (8.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Blanscape // Shutterstock
#20. Conveyor operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $29,560
- Median hourly wage: $14.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alena Veasey // Shutterstock
#19. Cooks, fast food
- Median annual wage: $29,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.17
- Total employment: 520 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#18. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,220
- Median hourly wage: $14.05
- Total employment: 360 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Robert Przybysz // Shutterstock
#17. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Median annual wage: $29,160
- Median hourly wage: $14.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
#16. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $29,130
- Median hourly wage: $14.01
- Total employment: 420 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#15. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $28,900
- Median hourly wage: $13.89
- Total employment: 3,620 people (13.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $28,860
- Median hourly wage: $13.88
- Total employment: 650 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#13. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $28,590
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 310 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $28,580
- Median hourly wage: $13.74
- Total employment: 520 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
#10. Cashiers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 5,410 people (20.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
#10. Graders and sorters, agricultural products (tie)
- Median annual wage: $28,440
- Median hourly wage: $13.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
#9. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 870 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
#8. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $28,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.56
- Total employment: 520 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#7. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $28,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,740 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
guteksk7 // Shutterstock
#6. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
- Median annual wage: $27,940
- Median hourly wage: $13.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Martin Smith // Shutterstock
#5. Parking attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,840
- Median hourly wage: $13.39
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
#4. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $27,500
- Median hourly wage: $13.22
- Total employment: 870 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
#3. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $27,350
- Median hourly wage: $13.15
- Total employment: 630 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
#2. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $27,280
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Total employment: 7,590 people (29.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#1. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Median annual wage: $27,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 200 people (0.78 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.
