Gallery: The 10 Worst Jobs of 2010

Roustabout

Pros: Decent income potential for a job with few skill requirements (top-end salary is $49,000 + overtime).

Cons: Long hours, dirty and dangerous working conditions, isolation (when working on offshore oil rigs or in inhospitable locales), high stress due to the constant risk of severe injury or death.

How Do You Get That Job?: Roustabout is an entry-level position that consists of basic oil rig maintenance. The main requirements are physical conditioning, willingness to be away from home for weeks at a time, and the ability to stay on your feet for a 12-hour shift.

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Lumberjack

Pros: The appeal of working in the "great outdoors," lots of exercise.

Cons: Need to work in all-weather conditions from triple-digit heat to freezing cold, poor employment opportunities, high risk of being injured by everything from falling trees to chainsaws, and even sawdust inhalation.

How Do You Get That Job?: Physical strength and skill with lumber-cutting equipment are the only requirements.

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Ironworker

Pros: Because of Ironworker's ties to the construction industry, in a good economy there is often a good hiring outlook and pay with overtime.

Cons: In a weak economy (like the current one), the job often suffers from layoffs and low pay. A great deal of climbing, balancing and concentration is required, leading to risk of injury.

How Do You Get That Job?: Ironworkers work on everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure projects. Becoming an Ironworker requires specialized training, although physical strength is also key. Unions and national organizations offer training programs.

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Dairy Farmer

Pros: Strong hiring outlook and relatively low unemployment, since the demand for milk isn't expected to drop anytime soon.

Cons: Long hours, intense physical demands, close proximity to penned-in cows tends to make for an unpleasant (and sometimes dangerous) work environment.

How Do You Get That Job?: Knowledge of Chemistry and Biology can be helpful in understanding milk production, but is not essential. Most independent Dairy Farmers spend at least a few years working on established farms to learn the trade before going out on their own.

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Welder

Pros: Good income with potential for substantial overtime pay, work is often done indoors.

Cons: Like Ironworkers, the job market for Welders is linked to the construction industry, and suffers during an economic slump. While not as dangerous as Ironworker, there is still a potential for severe injury.

How Do You Get That Job?: Becoming a Welder requires specialized training, and many candidates spend time in an apprenticeship. Certification is not specifically required, but many companies prefer certified Welders. Good eyesight and concentration are key to success.

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Garbage Collector

Pros: Low unemployment and good job security (unless people suddenly start producing less trash), relatively high salary for an unskilled profession.

Cons: You spend all day outdoors in all weather, lifting and dumping other peoples' trash. Need we say more?

How Do You Get That Job?: Garbage workers typically work for local municipalities or private companies that are contracted to collect trash. The main requirements for the job are physical fitness and driving skills. However, collecting hazardous materials (such as hospital waste) often requires getting a permit.

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Taxi Driver

Pros: Independence, ability to set your own hours.

Cons: Low income, high stress due to risk of robbery, unpleasant work environment (imagine being stuck in your car with a stranger – all day, every day).

How Do You Get That Job?: There are no education or skill requirements necessary to become a Taxi Driver, apart from a driver’s license and possession of a car. Some cities require that you become licensed, which can consist of anything from paying fees and passing a background check to passing complex exams on driving routes in the local area.

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Construction Worker

Pros: Good income potential with overtime, opportunity to become an independent contractor and start your own business.

Cons: Extreme, physically demanding labor in all weather conditions, risk of injury or death, poor hiring outlook in a struggling economy, seasonal layoffs.

How Do You Get That Job?: While becoming a Construction laborer requires little more than physical strength, becoming more specialized can take years of training.

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Meter Reader

Pros: Low stress, relatively high income for senior workers.

Cons: Poor hiring outlook due to increased automation, monotonous work in all weather conditions, little room for advancement.

How Do You Get That Job?: Basic understanding of how gas, electric and water are delivered to consumers is necessary, as well as training to operate reading equipment, a driver's license and knowledge of the local area.

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Mail Carrier

Pros: Stable employment, relatively high median income, good federal pension.

Cons: The unofficial motto of the Post Office is "neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This means you're working on Christmas Eve, even in the middle of a blizzard.

How Do You Get That Job?: There are no educational requirements to become a Mail Carrier, but physical fitness is important, and candidates must pass an exam before getting a job.

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