Lowest-paying jobs in Columbus

Written by:
March 21, 2021
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

Lowest-paying jobs in Columbus

Stacker collected information on the lowest-paying jobs in Columbus, OH, 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 2019.

In Columbus, the annual mean wage is $52,130 or 2.5% lower than national mean of $53,490, while the lowest-paying occupation makes only $21,200. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

1 / 100
Sean Rayford // Getty Images

#100. Security Guards

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $35,140
- Employment: 6,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,030
- Employment: 1,126,370

2 / 100
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

#99. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,910
- Employment: 8,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,030
- Employment: 704,910

3 / 100
Canva

#98. Helpers--Production Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,830
- Employment: 1,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,540
- Employment: 303,030

4 / 100
Canva

#97. Carpet Installers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,820
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,320
- Employment: 26,010

5 / 100
Education Images // Getty Images

#96. Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,690
- Employment: 3,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- Employment: 587,120

6 / 100
Giulio_Fornasar // Shutterstock

#95. Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,520
- Employment: 780

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,620
- Employment: 83,580

7 / 100
Canva

#94. Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,500
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,880
- Employment: 36,630

8 / 100
LuckView // Shutterstock

#93. Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,320
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,310
- Employment: 195,040

9 / 100
Creative Tools // Flickr

#92. Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,280
- Employment: 1,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,670
- Employment: 172,520

10 / 100
Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#91. Medical Assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $34,120
- Employment: 4,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430

11 / 100
OLIVIER DOULIERY // Getty Images

#90. First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,890
- Employment: 8,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,960
- Employment: 1,011,100

12 / 100
Canva

#89. Conveyor Operators and Tenders

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,690
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,150
- Employment: 24,050

13 / 100
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

#88. Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,630
- Employment: 1,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,150
- Employment: 45,960

14 / 100
Canva

#87. Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,570
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,000
- Employment: 44,890

15 / 100
Marcin Wichary // Wikicommons

#86. Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,400
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,860
- Employment: 76,810

16 / 100
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock

#85. Rehabilitation Counselors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,350
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,160
- Employment: 109,040

17 / 100
Canva

#84. Tire Repairers and Changers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,330
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,350
- Employment: 110,880

18 / 100
Canva

#83. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,290
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,810
- Employment: 153,990

19 / 100
Dmitri Ma // Shutterstock

#82. Music Directors and Composers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $33,200
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,670
- Employment: 10,580

20 / 100
Picsfive // Shutterstock

#81. Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,970
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,320
- Employment: 30,030

21 / 100
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#80. Pharmacy Technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,960
- Employment: 2,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780

22 / 100
DuxX // Shutterstock

#79. Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,830
- Employment: 1,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,590
- Employment: 390,540

23 / 100
alexkich // Shutterstock

#78. Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,790
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,670
- Employment: 32,160

24 / 100
Unsplash

#77. Library Technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,690
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- Employment: 88,720

25 / 100
Carl Mydans // Library of Congress

#76. Tile and Stone Setters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,680
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Employment: 40,470

26 / 100
Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#75. Psychiatric Technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,420
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470

27 / 100
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#74. Lodging Managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $32,390
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340

28 / 100
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#73. Phlebotomists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,900
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290

29 / 100
fizkes // Shutterstock

#72. Order Clerks

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,850
- Employment: 2,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,600
- Employment: 137,180

30 / 100
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

#71. Sewing Machine Operators

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,840
- Employment: 540

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,000
- Employment: 133,410

31 / 100
Pixabay

#70. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,830
- Employment: 32,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,130
- Employment: 2,953,170

32 / 100
Canva

#69. Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,570
- Employment: 7,970

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,360
- Employment: 912,660

33 / 100
Canva

#68. Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,370
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,570
- Employment: 99,460

34 / 100
Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos // Flickr

#67. Counter and Rental Clerks

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,160
- Employment: 2,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,600
- Employment: 411,560

35 / 100
CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images

#66. Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $31,050
- Employment: 3,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350

36 / 100
Topical Press Agency // Getty Images

#65. Telephone Operators

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,870
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,940
- Employment: 4,740

37 / 100
giocalde // Shutterstock

#64. Print Binding and Finishing Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,130
- Employment: 45,600

38 / 100
ESB Basic // Shutterstock

#63. Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,780
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,030
- Employment: 68,050

39 / 100
Atstock Productions // Shutterstock

#62. Telemarketers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,560
- Employment: 1,740

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,770
- Employment: 134,800

40 / 100
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#61. Tellers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,410
- Employment: 2,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,660
- Employment: 442,120

41 / 100
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

#60. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,400
- Employment: 2,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,530
- Employment: 385,960

42 / 100
Pixabay

#59. Helpers--Electricians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,310
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,300
- Employment: 79,260

43 / 100
Canva

#58. Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,300
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,530
- Employment: 24,110

44 / 100
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

#57. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,250
- Employment: 7,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- Employment: 1,346,910

45 / 100
Finist4 // Shutterstock

#56. Manicurists and Pedicurists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $30,230
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,390
- Employment: 111,780

46 / 100
Skeeze // pixabay

#55. Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,750
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,150
- Employment: 50,730

47 / 100
Inkaroad // Wikimedia Commons

#54. Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,890
- Employment: 11,940

48 / 100
The Boston Globe // Getty Images

#53. Stockers and Order Fillers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,590
- Employment: 18,800

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,660
- Employment: 2,135,850

49 / 100
Canva

#52. Pharmacy Aides

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,350
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280

50 / 100
viviandnguyen_ // Flickr

#51. Packers and Packagers, Hand

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,250
- Employment: 5,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,680
- Employment: 633,640

51 / 100
Canva

#50. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,140
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,820
- Employment: 38,070

52 / 100
Canva

#49. Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $29,120
- Employment: 3,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,030
- Employment: 402,480

53 / 100
Don LaVange // Flickr

#48. Funeral Attendants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,940
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,830
- Employment: 34,370

54 / 100
Canva

#47. Orderlies

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,720
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990

55 / 100
New Africa // Shutterstock

#46. Receptionists and Information Clerks

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,620
- Employment: 7,450

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,250
- Employment: 1,057,370

56 / 100
PxHere

#45. Library Assistants, Clerical

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,580
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,820
- Employment: 85,910

57 / 100
Unsplash

#44. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,560
- Employment: 14,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,010
- Employment: 2,145,450

58 / 100
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#43. Retail Salespersons

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,330
- Employment: 27,920

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,360
- Employment: 4,317,950

59 / 100
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#42. Nursing Assistants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,260
- Employment: 8,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920

60 / 100
Needpix

#41. Food Batchmakers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,250
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,120
- Employment: 159,390

61 / 100
Jorge Royan // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Cooks, Restaurant

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,160
- Employment: 7,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,700
- Employment: 1,401,890

62 / 100
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#39. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,050
- Employment: 1,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,940
- Employment: 382,670

63 / 100
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#38. Animal Caretakers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $28,040
- Employment: 1,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,060
- Employment: 212,450

64 / 100
Canva

#37. Physical Therapist Aides

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $27,740
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270

65 / 100
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

#36. Residential Advisors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $27,670
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,610
- Employment: 107,930

66 / 100
Smash the Iron Cage // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Slaughterers and Meat Packers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $27,520
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,600
- Employment: 73,390

67 / 100
Walter Siegmund // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $27,350
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,750
- Employment: 58,400

68 / 100
Provincial Archives of Alberta // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $27,270
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,920
- Employment: 17,590

69 / 100
Canva

#32. Bakers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $26,800
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,630
- Employment: 184,990

70 / 100
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

#31. Concierges

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $26,720
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,290
- Employment: 41,670

71 / 100
Dolly442 // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $26,590
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,180
- Employment: 78,850

72 / 100
Canva

#29. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,820
- Employment: 1,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030

73 / 100
Canva

#28. Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,620
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,920
- Employment: 84,920

74 / 100
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

#27. Recreation Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,550
- Employment: 2,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,330
- Employment: 358,750

75 / 100
Canva

#26. Food Preparation Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,120
- Employment: 4,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,820
- Employment: 863,740

76 / 100
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#25. Childcare Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,030
- Employment: 4,860

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,510
- Employment: 561,520

77 / 100
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#24. Driver/Sales Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $25,020
- Employment: 4,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,230
- Employment: 444,660

78 / 100
Unsplash

#23. Floral Designers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $24,760
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,760
- Employment: 41,770

79 / 100
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#22. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $24,590
- Employment: 2,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,080
- Employment: 277,580

80 / 100
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#21. Waiters and Waitresses

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $24,460
- Employment: 19,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,800
- Employment: 2,579,020

81 / 100
Canva

#20. Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $24,320
- Employment: 880

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,860
- Employment: 117,670

82 / 100
Jason Person // Shutterstock

#19. Cooks, Short Order

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $24,100
- Employment: 1,230

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,240
- Employment: 152,670

83 / 100
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#18. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,860
- Employment: 5,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,810
- Employment: 926,960

84 / 100
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#17. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,750
- Employment: 1,170

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,420
- Employment: 209,330

85 / 100
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

#16. Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,720
- Employment: 1,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,950
- Employment: 267,940

86 / 100
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

#15. Cashiers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,600
- Employment: 17,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,400
- Employment: 3,617,910

87 / 100
Crew // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Bartenders

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,580
- Employment: 4,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,000
- Employment: 646,850

88 / 100
Travis Grathwell // Flickr

#13. Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,460
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,230
- Employment: 15,990

89 / 100
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#12. Baggage Porters and Bellhops

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,260
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $28,230
- Employment: 39,790

90 / 100
Martin Smith // Shutterstock

#11. Parking Attendants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,250
- Employment: 1,520

National
- Annual mean salary: $26,450
- Employment: 147,390

91 / 100
Ryan Everton // Unsplash

#10. Dishwashers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $23,100
- Employment: 2,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,410
- Employment: 514,330

92 / 100
Daniel Lee // Flickr

#9. Cooks, Fast Food

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $22,940
- Employment: 3,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $23,530
- Employment: 527,220

93 / 100
Canva

#8. Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $22,850
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $27,780
- Employment: 295,520

94 / 100
Canva

#7. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $22,440
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,600
- Employment: 14,740

95 / 100
Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#6. Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,930
- Employment: 3,390

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,010
- Employment: 423,380

96 / 100
Pixabay

#5. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,810
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,380
- Employment: 143,940

97 / 100
Pexels

#4. Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,690
- Employment: 980

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,870
- Employment: 138,160

98 / 100
Pxhere

#3. Fast Food and Counter Workers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,420
- Employment: 31,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $23,250
- Employment: 3,996,820

99 / 100
Unsplash

#2. Amusement and Recreation Attendants

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,340
- Employment: 1,910

National
- Annual mean salary: $24,330
- Employment: 338,110

100 / 100
aboutsung // Shutterstock

#1. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $21,200
- Employment: 1,950

National
- Annual mean salary: $25,020
- Employment: 477,270

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