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The 10 Lowest Paying Jobs In North Carolina For 2026
Reflecting on my high school days, I remember my ideal job at the local movie theater—minimum wage, plus free popcorn and movies. Back then, earning $5.86 an hour felt satisfactory. Today, surviving on such a wage seems unimaginable. This nostalgia led me to explore the current job market in North Carolina and identify the career paths that offer the lowest salaries.
Building on our previous work researching highest paying jobs in North Carolina, we analyzed the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to pinpoint the lowest paying jobs in the state.
Our findings reveal that Fast Food Cooks hold the title for the lowest average pay in North Carolina.
Here’s a snapshot of the 10 lowest paying jobs in North Carolina:
- Cooks, Fast Food
- Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
- Dishwashers
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Shampooers
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops
- Cashiers
For further insights into these low-paying positions, continue reading or explore our other resources on the North Carolina job market:
- Best Companies To Work For In Raleigh, NC
- Best Companies To Work For In Charlotte, NC
- These Are The 10 Best Cities In North Carolina To Get A Job
How We Determined the Lowest Paid Jobs in North Carolina
We analyzed data from the BLS encompassing all job classifications in North Carolina to identify the positions with the lowest salaries. This data reflects current trends and will be updated annually as new statistics become available from the BLS.
For additional reading, check out:
- These Are The 10 Fastest Growing Jobs In North Carolina
- These Are The 100 Highest Paying Jobs In Charlotte
- These Are The 100 Highest Paying Jobs In North Carolina
Detailed List Of The Lowest Paying Jobs In North Carolina
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooks, Fast Food | $19,020 |
| 2 | Combined Food Preparation And Serving Workers, Including Fast Food | $19,730 |
| 3 | Dishwashers | $20,040 |
| 4 | Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop | $20,110 |
| 5 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, And Ticket Takers | $20,130 |
| 6 | Shampooers | $20,180 |
| 7 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, And Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $20,210 |
| 8 | Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers | $20,310 |
| 9 | Baggage Porters And Bellhops | $20,400 |
| 10 | Cashiers | $20,540 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
