Lowest-paying jobs in Fort Smith

Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports at 4.2% as of May 2025鈥攁nd that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a. 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 , according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 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 . Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that ' 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, used to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Fort Smith. 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.

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alexdov // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood

- Median annual wage: $32,490
- Median hourly wage: $15.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $32,400
- Median hourly wage: $15.58
- Total employment: 410 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Receptionists and information clerks

- Median annual wage: $32,270
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Total employment: 650 people (6.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $32,170
- Median hourly wage: $15.47
- Total employment: 300 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#45. Tellers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 320 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Automotive and watercraft service attendants (tie)

- Median annual wage: $31,940
- Median hourly wage: $15.36
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $31,930
- Median hourly wage: $15.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. School bus monitors

- Median annual wage: $31,670
- Median hourly wage: $15.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Sewing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $31,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.21
- Total employment: 110 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Nursing assistants

- Median annual wage: $31,250
- Median hourly wage: $15.02
- Total employment: 1,500 people (15.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Stockers and order fillers

- Median annual wage: $31,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.00
- Total employment: 2,230 people (23.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $31,020
- Median hourly wage: $14.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ORION PRODUCTION // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $30,930
- Median hourly wage: $14.87
- Total employment: 90 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Packers and packagers, hand

- Median annual wage: $30,700
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 290 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Tire repairers and changers

- Median annual wage: $30,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.76
- Total employment: 90 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DSBfoto // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $30,590
- Median hourly wage: $14.71
- Total employment: 1,190 people (12.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys

- Median annual wage: $30,410
- Median hourly wage: $14.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Goldsithney // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Psychiatric technicians

- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 120 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Cooks, institution and cafeteria

- Median annual wage: $29,800
- Median hourly wage: $14.33
- Total employment: 600 people (6.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Median annual wage: $29,750
- Median hourly wage: $14.30
- Total employment: 920 people (9.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paul.J.West // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $29,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 770 people (8.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Animal caretakers

- Median annual wage: $29,280
- Median hourly wage: $14.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs

- Median annual wage: $29,000
- Median hourly wage: $13.94
- Total employment: 110 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Retail salespersons

- Median annual wage: $28,810
- Median hourly wage: $13.85
- Total employment: 2,590 people (26.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Bakers

- Median annual wage: $28,420
- Median hourly wage: $13.66
- Total employment: 190 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photographee.eu // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Rehabilitation counselors

- Median annual wage: $28,170
- Median hourly wage: $13.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Finist4 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Manicurists and pedicurists

- Median annual wage: $28,130
- Median hourly wage: $13.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Cooks, restaurant

- Median annual wage: $28,100
- Median hourly wage: $13.51
- Total employment: 840 people (8.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Computer systems analysts

- Median annual wage: $27,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.31
- Total employment: 320 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Home health and personal care aides

- Median annual wage: $27,570
- Median hourly wage: $13.25
- Total employment: 2,390 people (24.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

- Median annual wage: $27,330
- Median hourly wage: $13.14
- Total employment: 180 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Median annual wage: $27,200
- Median hourly wage: $13.08
- Total employment: 180 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aboutsung // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Median annual wage: $27,000
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 200 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

- Median annual wage: $26,990
- Median hourly wage: $12.98
- Total employment: 560 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dean Drobot // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Cashiers

- Median annual wage: $26,950
- Median hourly wage: $12.96
- Total employment: 2,230 people (23.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Dishwashers

- Median annual wage: $26,890
- Median hourly wage: $12.93
- Total employment: 210 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food preparation workers

- Median annual wage: $26,770
- Median hourly wage: $12.87
- Total employment: 330 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Median annual wage: $26,150
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 130 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

- Median annual wage: $26,110
- Median hourly wage: $12.56
- Total employment: 90 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $26,030
- Median hourly wage: $12.51
- Total employment: 170 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Waiters and waitresses

- Median annual wage: $25,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.48
- Total employment: 1,390 people (14.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $25,800
- Median hourly wage: $12.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Substitute teachers, short-term

- Median annual wage: $25,610
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 230 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $25,600
- Median hourly wage: $12.31
- Total employment: 210 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Childcare workers

- Median annual wage: $25,210
- Median hourly wage: $12.12
- Total employment: 350 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Amusement and recreation attendants

- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Fast food and counter workers

- Median annual wage: $24,610
- Median hourly wage: $11.83
- Total employment: 2,860 people (29.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Recreation workers

- Median annual wage: $24,570
- Median hourly wage: $11.81
- Total employment: 150 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alena Veasey // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Cooks, fast food

- Median annual wage: $23,580
- Median hourly wage: $11.34
- Total employment: 480 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

encierro // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals

- Median annual wage: $21,320
- Median hourly wage: $10.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 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.

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