Lowest-paying jobs in Florence

Published 12:38 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

Lowest-paying jobs in Florence

The U.S. may be one of the wealthiest countries in the world but there’s a growing trend of financial inequality, with middle-class households feeling the most impact. In fact, the number of adults who live in middle-class households dropped from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to an April 2022 analysis from Pew Research Center. On the other hand, the upper-income level rose from 14% to 21%. The declining middle class in the U.S. can be attributed to various factors including a decrease in unions and manufacturing jobs and an increased need for college-educated, tech-savvy employees.

The COVID-19 pandemic also played a major role in exposing the harsh financial gap as those who fell under the middle- and upper-income brackets were able to keep their jobs and/or work remotely. At the start of the pandemic in the U.S., workers who fell under the lower-income tier found themselves unemployed or having to be out of work, even if temporarily, as their place of employment was closed.

Those who worked in the leisure and hospitality industries were hit the hardest financially. In December 2020, employment in the hospitality industry was down by 23% compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, an unemployment rate that surpassed other industries. Service employees such as housekeepers, food preparation workers, kitchen cooks, automobile glass installers, and animal caretakers were some of the lowest-paying jobs in the nation.

Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-paying jobs in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#50. Tellers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $29,590
– #364 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 280

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,930
– Employment: 364,210
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,040)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,490)
— Napa, CA ($42,000)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

#49. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $29,030
– #291 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,990
– Employment: 285,980
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($53,630)
— Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($53,470)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($52,630)

Canva

#48. Helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,650
– #274 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,090
– Employment: 88,480
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Pittsfield, MA ($58,590)
— Reno, NV ($50,700)
— Springfield, MA-CT ($50,600)

giocalde // Shutterstock

#47. Printing press operators

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,630
– #317 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,120
– Employment: 145,290
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($56,850)
— Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($51,730)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($50,370)

Canva

#46. Butchers and meat cutters

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,590
– #342 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,670
– Employment: 145,930
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($50,570)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($50,510)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($48,490)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#45. Social and human service assistants

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,550
– #378 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,460
– Employment: 398,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
— Danbury, CT ($54,870)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,590)

Pixabay

#44. Helpers–electricians

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $28,520
– #192 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,720
– Employment: 72,150
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,560)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($50,530)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($48,690)

Dolly442 // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,990
– #178 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,560
– Employment: 67,210
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,050)
— Rochester, MN ($47,190)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($47,060)

The Boston Globe // Getty Images

#42. Stockers and order fillers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,560
– #370 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 870

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,020
– Employment: 2,451,430
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,240)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,960)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($40,620)

New Africa // Shutterstock

#41. Receptionists and information clerks

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,420
– #356 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 510

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,910
– Employment: 983,150
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,680)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($41,290)

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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#40. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,360
– #317 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,250
– Employment: 118,670
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,220)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($51,340)

Canva

#39. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $27,190
– #275 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,960
– Employment: 111,480
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($50,340)
— Fairbanks, AK ($41,840)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,120)

Canva

#38. Tire repairers and changers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,910
– #317 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,520
– Employment: 93,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($44,520)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,370)

ESB Basic // Shutterstock

#37. Switchboard operators, including answering service

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,690
– #185 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,590
– Employment: 48,190
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($51,610)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,250)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,440)

Canva

#36. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,600
– #385 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 330

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,240
– Employment: 892,450
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,650)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,240)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,830)

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viviandnguyen_ // Flickr

#35. Packers and packagers, hand

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,490
– #274 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,950
– Employment: 585,270
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,960)
— Rome, GA ($38,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,460)

Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock

#34. Office clerks, general

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $26,000
– #382 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 700

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,990
– Employment: 2,578,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,740)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($48,850)

Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos // Flickr

#33. Counter and rental clerks

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,860
– #382 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,170
– Employment: 371,620
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,760)
— Fairbanks, AK ($47,080)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,760)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

#32. Recreation workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,660
– #349 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,020
– Employment: 264,020
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($50,710)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,730)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,200)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#31. Retail salespersons

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,590
– #380 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,290

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,920
– Employment: 3,693,490
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,150)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,150)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,790)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#30. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,170
– #316 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,570
– Employment: 175,660
– Entry level education requirements: not available
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,740)
— Napa, CA ($42,730)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($42,000)

Canva

#29. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $25,120
– #269 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,780
– Employment: 98,970
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ames, IA ($44,000)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,680)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,920)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#28. Nursing assistants

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,950
– #378 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 530

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,250
– Employment: 1,314,830
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,690)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,500)
— Salinas, CA ($44,210)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#27. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,570
– #358 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,550
– Employment: 351,960
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($40,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,780)

Jorge Royan // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Cooks, restaurant

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,530
– #379 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 510

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,630
– Employment: 1,193,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($43,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,380)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,690)

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Sean Rayford // Getty Images

#25. Security guards

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $24,240
– #381 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 280

National
– Annual mean salary: $35,830
– Employment: 1,057,100
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Idaho Falls, ID ($70,350)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,440)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($55,500)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

#24. Residential advisors

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,980
– #269 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,950
– Employment: 92,500
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($50,560)
— Napa, CA ($48,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,210)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#23. Animal caretakers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,640
– #361 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,520
– Employment: 225,680
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,460)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,720)
— Salinas, CA ($37,420)

Unsplash

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

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,510
– #378 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 690

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,860
– Employment: 2,036,680
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,030)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($41,240)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($41,150)

CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#21. Preschool teachers, except special education

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,470
– #369 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,460
– Employment: 391,670
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
— Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
— Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

Canva

#20. Helpers–production workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,340
– #337 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,910
– Employment: 202,860
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
— Pittsfield, MA ($43,910)
— Reno, NV ($41,940)

Canva

#19. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $23,200
– #378 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,520
– Employment: 392,860
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,400)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($47,000)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#18. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,990
– #347 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220

National
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– Employment: 1,187,270
– Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

ProfDEH // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Couriers and messengers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,850
– #221 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $34,270
– Employment: 68,310
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($43,430)
— Modesto, CA ($42,550)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,220)

Crew // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Bartenders

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,760
– #348 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $30,340
– Employment: 485,330
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($50,180)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,820)
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($47,440)

PxHere

#15. Library assistants, clerical

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,250
– #248 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,490
– Employment: 78,470
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,770)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($52,500)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($49,030)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#14. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $22,130
– #333 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,830
– Employment: 157,400
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($38,740)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,290)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($35,690)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#13. Cashiers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,990
– #353 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,630

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,780
– Employment: 3,335,170
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,860)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,910)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,400)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#12. Food servers, nonrestaurant

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,800
– #313 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,500
– Employment: 243,030
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Napa, CA ($46,270)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,930)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($43,400)

Ryan Everton // Unsplash

#11. Dishwashers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $21,190
– #359 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 90

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,350
– Employment: 377,040
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,200)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,440)

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Canva

#10. Food preparation workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,770
– #383 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 500

National
– Annual mean salary: $28,810
– Employment: 783,350
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,230)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($38,340)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

#9. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,700
– #352 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $28,040
– Employment: 220,380
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,150)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($48,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,910)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#8. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $20,350
– #386 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,580
– Employment: 723,430
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,430)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($44,940)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,580)

Daniel Lee // Flickr

#7. Cooks, fast food

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,810
– #307 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $25,490
– Employment: 768,130
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($36,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,640)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($35,040)

Unsplash

#6. Amusement and recreation attendants

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,790
– #327 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,110
– Employment: 262,170
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($36,800)
— Anchorage, AK ($36,020)

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

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

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,630
– #343 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,000
– Employment: 324,690
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,060)
— Madera, CA ($36,490)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#4. Bus drivers, school

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,460
– #333 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,750
– Employment: 361,420
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($55,400)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($55,150)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($53,770)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#3. Waiters and waitresses

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,420
– #381 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 870

National
– Annual mean salary: $29,010
– Employment: 1,804,030
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Glens Falls, NY ($47,570)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,080)
— Ithaca, NY ($44,970)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#2. Childcare workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,280
– #382 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $27,680
– Employment: 438,520
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($39,390)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,120)
— Napa, CA ($36,850)

Pxhere

#1. Fast food and counter workers

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
– Annual mean salary: $19,140
– #383 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,170

National
– Annual mean salary: $26,060
– Employment: 3,095,120
– Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($37,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($36,360)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,240)