To wind up in the bottom 20 of our 200 overall rankings, a job must suffer from several glaring deficiencies such as high stress, challenging physical demands and low pay. Firefighter is a highly-stressful career (although firefighters enjoy a high level of job satisfaction), while child care worker is one of the lowest paid. With the exception of positions like EMT, a majority of the 10 worst jobs in America require little more than basic training and, in most cases, a strong back and large muscles. Most pay less than $40,000 per year.
- Find This Job181. Firefighter
- Protects individuals and saves lives and property from the ravages of fire.
- Overall Ranking: 181 Overall Score: 743 Work Environment: 3314.030
Physical Demands: 43.23 Stress: 110.940 Income: $44,218 Hours Per Week: 55
- Find This Job182. Child Care Worker
- Cares for infants and toddlers when parents are at work or are unable to do so for other reasons.
- Overall Ranking: 182 Overall Score: 752 Work Environment: 947.250
Physical Demands: 19 Stress: 31.259 Income: $19,107 Hours Per Week: 37.5
- Find This Job183. Painter
- Prepares surfaces, and applies paints, varnishes, and finishes to the interiors and exteriors of houses and other structures.
- Overall Ranking: 183 Overall Score: 759 Work Environment: 1034.020
Physical Demands: 26 Stress: 34.799 Income: $33,155 Hours Per Week: 40
- Find This Job184. Nurse (Licensed Practical)
- Assists doctors and registered nurses in the care of physically or mentally ill patients.
- Overall Ranking: 184 Overall Score: 765 Work Environment: 1080.000
Physical Demands: 15 Stress: 48.000 Income: $39,093 Hours Per Week: 40
- Find This Job185. Nuclear Decontamination Technician
- Cleanses nuclear power plant equipment and personnel of irradiated material.
- Overall Ranking: 185 Overall Score: 768 Work Environment: 821.880
Physical Demands: 20.13 Stress: 50.226 Income: $37,163 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job186. Butcher
- Preparing meat for sale to distributors, supermarket customers, and other consumers.
- Overall Ranking: 186 Overall Score: 768 Work Environment: 987.800
Physical Demands: 19.98 Stress: 41.533 Income: $28,165 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job187. Automobile Mechanic
- Diagnoses problems with automotive vehicles, makes repairs, and performs routine maintenance.
- Overall Ranking: 187 Overall Score: 771 Work Environment: 1100.550
Physical Demands: 21.57 Stress: 53.831 Income: $32,218 Hours Per Week: 47.5
- Find This Job188. Sheet Metal Worker
- Constructs, installs, and maintains sheet metal products for home, commercial, and industrial use.
- Overall Ranking: 188 Overall Score: 779 Work Environment: 1266.140
Physical Demands: 30.73 Stress: 44.752 Income: $40,200 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job189. Mail Carrier
- Delivers and collects mail along prearranged rural and urban routes.
- Overall Ranking: 189 Overall Score: 793 Work Environment: 1461.240
Physical Demands: 26.86 Stress: 48.708 Income: $46,047 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job190. Construction Worker (Laborer)
- Assists construction trade workers by performing a wide variety of tasks requiring physical labor.
- Overall Ranking: 190 Overall Score: 802 Work Environment: 1555.850
Physical Demands: 36.41 Stress: 47.306 Income: $28,194 Hours Per Week: 42.5
- Find This Job191. Ironworker
- Raises the steel framework of buildings, bridges, and other structures.
- Overall Ranking: 191 Overall Score: 808 Work Environment: 1593.720
Physical Demands: 36.85 Stress: 50.911 Income: $32,129 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job192. Roustabout
- Performs routine physical labor and maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, both on and off shore.
- Overall Ranking: 192 Overall Score: 821 Work Environment: 1731.450
Physical Demands: 36.89 Stress: 65.548 Income: $29,140 Hours Per Week: 50
- Find This Job193. Welder
- Joins or repairs metal surfaces through the application of heat.
- Overall Ranking: 193 Overall Score: 839 Work Environment: 1180.140
Physical Demands: 29.08 Stress: 47.660 Income: $33,127 Hours Per Week: 45
- Find This Job194. Garbage Collector
- Collects refuse on a designated municipal route, and transports trash to disposal plants or landfill areas.
- Overall Ranking: 194 Overall Score: 842 Work Environment: 1368.320
Physical Demands: 36.55 Stress: 42.760 Income: $30,189 Hours Per Week: 42.5
- Find This Job195. Roofer
- Installs roofs on new buildings, performs repairs on old roofs, and re-roofs old buildings.
- Overall Ranking: 195 Overall Score: 846 Work Environment: 1481.200
Physical Demands: 33.46 Stress: 46.552 Income: $34,164 Hours Per Week: 42.5
- Find This Job196. Emergency Medical Technician
- Attends to situations which demand immediate medical attention, such as automobile accidents, heart attacks, and gunshot wounds.
- Overall Ranking: 196 Overall Score: 850 Work Environment: 1610.700
Physical Demands: 21.26 Stress: 67.113 Income: $26,158 Hours Per Week: 40
- Find This Job197. Sailor
- Performs any number of tasks involved in the operation of ships, boats, barges, or dredges.
- Overall Ranking: 197 Overall Score: 870 Work Environment: 1660.560
Physical Demands: 30.77 Stress: 51.282 Income: $34,160 Hours Per Week: 50
- Find This Job198. Taxi Driver
- Overall Ranking: 198 Overall Score: 900 Work Environment: 2317.210
Physical Demands: 14.46 Stress: 100.491 Income: $21,127 Hours Per Week: 47.5
- Find This Job199. Dairy Farmer
- Directs and takes part in activities involved in the raising of cattle for milk production.
- Overall Ranking: 199 Overall Score: 908 Work Environment: 1474.480
Physical Demands: 30.53 Stress: 64.509 Income: $33,109 Hours Per Week: 52.5
- Find This Job200. Lumberjack
- Fells, cuts, and transports timber to be processed into lumber, paper, and other wood products.
- Overall Ranking: 200 Overall Score: 937 Work Environment: 1817.530
Physical Demands: 38.87 Stress: 67.603 Income: $32,124 Hours Per Week: 45
