Business & Tech
These Are The Lowest-Paying Jobs In Pennsylvania, New Analysis Says
A recent study evaluated the lowest-paying jobs in Pennsylvania. Here's what it found.

What are the lowest-paying jobs in Pennsylvania? A new analysis by career site Zippia reveals just that, with several careers in the food service industry taking the top spots, alongside cashiers, transportation attendants and childcare workers.
Zippia, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recently compiled a list of the 100 lowest-paying jobs in the Keystone State. The website used the Bureau of Labor Statistics data set for all 764 job classifications in Pennsylvania to identify the ones that pay the least.
Shampooers get paid the least in Pennsylvania, making just $18,750 on average and $16,100 to start. Food preparation workers, including fast food employees, follow at $18,910 on average or $15,940 to start. (Full list below.)
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On the flip side, the website's earlier analysis of the highest-paying jobs in Pennsylvania show that becoming an anesthesiologist is the most lucrative career in the state. If you become an anesthesiologist in Pennsylvania, you could make more than $258,000 on average and more than $85,000 to start.
RELATED: These Are The Highest-Paying Jobs In Pennsylvania, New Analysis Says
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Here is a look at the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Pennsylvania and the average and starting salaries. To see the full list click here:
- Shampooers: $18,750 (average), $16,100 (starting)
- Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food: $18,910 (average), $15,940 (start)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers: $19,030 (average) $16,000 (start)
- Dishwashers: $19,270 (average), $16,050 (start)
- Cooks, Fast Food: $19,330 (average),$16,080 (start)
- Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants: $19,370 (average),$16,120 (start)
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers: $19,460 (average), $16,030 (start)
- Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop: $19,620 (average), $16,080 (start)
- Cashiers: $19,700 (average), $16,120 (start)
- Gaming Dealers: $19,990 (average), $15,960 (start)
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop: $20,250 (average), $16,080 (start)
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants: $20,630 (average), $16,100 (start)
- Bartenders: $20,680 (average), $16,150 (start)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers: $20,780 (average), $16,170 (start)
- Waiters and Waitresses: $20,850 (average), $16,160 (start)
- Childcare Workers: $21,010 (average), $16,250 (start)
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant: $21,050 (average), $16,250 (start)
- Cooks, Short Order: $21,150 (average), $16,350 (start)
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other: $21,290 (average), $16,200 (start)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops: $21,290 (average), $16,280 (start)
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants: $21,400 (average), $16,490 (start)
- Food Preparation Workers: $21,530 (average), $16,400 (start)
- Cooks, All Other: $21,680 (average), $16,300 (start)
- Parking Lot Attendants: $21,720 (average), $16,530 (start)
- Home Health Aides: $22,000 (average), $16,680 (start)
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks: $22,060 (average), $16,570 (start)
- Motion Picture Projectionists: $22,080 (average), $16,630 (start)
- Nonfarm Animal Caretakers: $22,090 (average), $16,250 (start)
- Personal Care Aides: $22,160 (average), $17,060 (start)
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials: $22,160 (average), $16,800 (start)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: $22,170 (average), $16,510 (start)
- Manicurists and Pedicurists: $22,370 (average), $16,400 (start)
- Pharmacy Aides: $22,820 (average), $16,450 (start)
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment: $23,050 (average), $16,490 (start)
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers: $23,100 (average), $16,680 (start)
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants: $23,140 (average), $16,520 (start)
- Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons: $23,490 (average), $19,640 (start)
- Cooks, Restaurant: $23,780 (average), $16,740 (start)
- Library Assistants, Clerical: $23,960 (average), $16,590 (start)
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other: $23,970 (average), $16,310 (start)
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse: $24,040 (average), $16,620 (start)
- Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs: $24,090 (average), $17,020 (start)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers: $24,140 (average), $16,910 (start)
- Gaming and Sports Book Writers and Runners: $24,170 (average), $16,650 (start)
- Sewing Machine Operators: $24,170 (average), $17,190 (start)
- Stock Clerks and Order Fillers: $24,210 (average), $16,560 (start)
- Bicycle Repairers: $24,310 (average), $16,530 (start)
- Funeral Attendants: $24,320 (average), $16,490 (start)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians: $24,420 (average), $19,660 (start)
- Teacher Assistants: $24,590 (average), $16,860 (start)
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