Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2022

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2022, ranked by average pay. In 2022, the worst paying job was "Credit Union Examiner," with an average yearly pay of $969. The second worst paying job, "Administrative Law Judge," follows with an average of $2,750, which is a 183.8% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Credit Union Examiner	$968.70	$300
2	Administrative Law Judge	$2,750.00	$1,000
3	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$34,118.48	$28,758
4	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$34,531.40	$31,013
5	Supply Student Trainee	$34,893.00	$31,305
6	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$35,699.33	$33,221
7	Sales Store Clerk	$35,891.53	$19,888
8	Biological Science Student Trainee	$36,895.84	$26,356
9	Data Transcriber	$36,899.45	$29,402
10	Information Receptionist	$37,624.18	$28,758
11	Messenger	$37,640.60	$34,127
12	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$37,686.00	$31,430
13	Laundry Worker	$38,855.57	$25,649
14	General Student Trainee	$39,346.07	$31,931
15	Custodial Worker	$39,392.42	$400
16		$39,508.04	$23,440
17	Telephone Operator	$39,632.33	$28,991
18	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$39,671.12	$366
19	Plant Protection Technician	$40,043.27	$28,758
20	Language Clerk	$40,081.00	$36,856
21	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$40,331.81	$28,758
22	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$40,756.41	$25,734
23	Physical Science Student Trainee	$40,872.74	$28,758
24	Guide	$40,885.74	$31,931
25	Food Service Worker	$41,017.04	$20,014
26	Laborer	$41,413.96	$25,211
27	Investigation Student Trainee	$41,590.30	$35,923
28	Mail and File Employee	$42,127.06	$73
29	Second Cook	$42,184.54	$41,745
30	Financial Management Student Trainee	$42,594.13	$25,000
31	Sewing Machine Operator	$43,162.81	$31,931
32		$43,496.80	$29,110
33	Nursing Assistant	$43,547.61	$28,758
34	Information Technology Student Trainee	$43,566.20	$26,532
35	Insects Production Worker	$43,585.37	$34,602
36	Laboratory Worker	$43,756.58	$38,109
37	Oiler	$43,919.19	$43,487
38	Statistical Assistant	$44,396.29	$33,221
39	Education Student Trainee	$44,475.20	$36,118
40	Clerk-Typist	$44,919.56	$37,386
41	Equipment Operator	$45,091.51	$33,221
42	Medical Technician	$45,417.94	$32,283
43	Baker	$45,580.00	$45,580
44	Able Seaman	$45,753.72	$45,121
45	Supply Clerk and Technician	$45,874.92	$250
46	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$45,935.35	$37,523
47	Community Planning Technician	$46,231.00	$46,231
48	Medical Support Assistant	$46,258.88	$500
49	Laundry Machine Operator	$46,438.01	$27,757
50		$46,598.27	$31,931
51	Engine Utilityman	$46,644.00	$46,644
52	Store Worker	$46,770.00	$46,770
53	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$46,919.33	$52
54		$47,602.99	$28,006
55	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$47,608.65	$400
56	Cash Processer	$47,707.07	$33,221
57	Telecommunications Processer	$47,872.09	$36,118
58	Irrigation System Operator	$48,470.92	$32,283
59	Civilian	$48,472.18	$33,221
60	Transportation Clerk and Assistant	$48,791.97	$33,705
61	Security Guard	$48,830.59	$400
62		$49,152.31	$34,331
63	Hazardous Waste Disposer	$49,400.00	$42,930
64	Food Inspector	$49,436.39	$36,118
65		$49,451.00	$41,555
66	Animal Caretaker	$49,502.86	$34,769
67	Dental Assistant	$49,628.00	$31,931
68	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$49,687.06	$32,283
69	Soil Conservation Technician	$49,724.36	$32,283
70	Miscellaneous Engine Overhaul	$49,775.00	$49,775
71	Pharmacy Technician	$50,194.29	$28,758
72	Biological Science Technician	$50,202.28	$23,440
73	Health Aid and Technician	$50,273.33	$27,409
74	Veterinary Student Trainee	$50,433.96	$32,283
75	Economics Assistant	$50,462.56	$31,931
76	Tax Examiner	$50,465.83	$32,283
77	Forestry Technician	$50,579.68	$550
78	Dispatcher	$50,658.01	$32,283
79	Transportation Student Trainee	$50,742.86	$39,065
80		$50,808.61	$31,216
81	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$51,050.48	$32,570
82	Tractor Operator	$51,187.20	$35,166
83	Human Resources Assistance	$51,212.95	$300
84	Social Science Student Trainee	$51,554.43	$32,570
85	Unlicensed Junior Engineer	$51,596.80	$51,078
86	Security Clerk and Assistant	$51,626.87	$32,570
87	Cemetery Caretaker	$51,750.73	$31,931
88	Tools and Parts Attendant	$51,768.52	$31,931
89	Financial Clerk and Assistant	$51,872.53	$250
90	Instrument Mechanic	$52,018.40	$35,103
91	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$52,072.21	$44,203
92	Purchasing	$52,235.43	$3,000
93	Chief Cook	$52,253.00	$51,507
94	Seaman/Fisherman	$52,453.66	$45,121
95	Voucher Examiner	$52,564.35	$36,118
96	Motor Vehicle Operator	$52,564.69	$30,241
97	Budget Clerk	$52,595.56	$36,118
98	Aircraft Attendent	$52,669.00	$45,058
99		$52,977.00	$52,977
100	Materials Examiner and Identifier	$53,025.25	$47,667

Data Sources

The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.

Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.