Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2004

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2004, ranked by average pay. In 2004, the worst paying job was "Sales Store Clerical," with an average yearly pay of $17,760. The second worst paying job, "Barbering," follows with an average of $21,993, which is a 23.83% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Sales Store Clerk	$17,760.16	$12,898
2	Barber	$21,992.67	$175
3	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$22,933.31	$19,483
4	Quality Inspection Student Trainee	$23,863.00	$23,863
5	Messenger	$24,213.53	$17,328
6	Wiper	$24,889.00	$24,783
7	Ordinary Seaman	$25,388.40	$24,783
8	Laundry Worker	$26,110.29	$1,000
9	Food Service Worker	$26,166.54	$100
10	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$26,168.95	$17,328
11	Information Receptionist	$26,322.97	$17,328
12	Biological Science Student Trainee	$26,392.60	$17,328
13	Plant Protection Technician	$26,525.32	$17,328
14	Laborer	$26,592.91	$300
15	Guide	$26,655.42	$17,328
16	Custodial Worker	$26,848.10	$300
17	Second Cook	$27,645.10	$27,579
18	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$28,199.54	$17,906
19	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$28,246.82	$15,625
20	Transportation Student Trainee	$28,433.42	$20,748
21	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$28,537.44	$17,328
22	Mail and File Employee	$28,647.36	$168
23	Telephone Operator	$28,667.77	$500
24	Data Transcriber	$28,702.18	$19,483
25	Able Seaman	$28,992.48	$26,677
26	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$28,999.40	$23,863
27	Oiler	$29,114.50	$28,732
28	Financial Management Student Trainee	$29,131.65	$17,911
29	Insects Production Worker	$29,196.54	$21,538
30	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$29,198.93	$24,783
31	Investigation Student Trainee	$29,261.79	$21,257
32	Laboratory Worker	$29,416.88	$2,000
33	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$29,622.53	$19,595
34	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$29,636.97	$17,911
35	Range Technician	$29,888.77	$19,483
36	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$29,957.40	$29,809
37	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$30,123.76	$16,221
38	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$30,196.33	$19,168
39	Supply Student Trainee	$30,348.00	$22,952
40	Nursing Assistant	$30,363.60	$203
41	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$30,495.50	$29,479
42	Mathematician and Statistics Student Trainne	$30,497.63	$21,518
43	Safety Technician	$30,544.59	$19,483
44	General Student Trainee	$30,698.14	$15,625
45	Engine Utilityman	$30,806.00	$30,806
46	Physical Science Student Trainee	$31,019.20	$19,168
47	Medical Support Assistant	$31,107.02	$500
48	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$31,386.96	$21,257
49	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$31,633.42	$19,168
50	Seaman/Fisherman	$31,695.83	$24,783
51	Equipment Operator	$31,707.64	$19,548
52	Sewing Machine Operator	$31,738.08	$21,580
53	Clerk-Typist	$31,804.16	$15,625
54	Security Guard	$31,923.09	$16,221
55	Biological Science Technician	$32,170.54	$148
56	Correspondence Clerk	$32,213.46	$23,383
57	Education Student Trainee	$32,287.00	$24,659
58	Forestry Technician	$32,323.10	$100
59	Cash Processer	$32,473.87	$700
60	Dispatcher	$32,532.38	$20,149
61	Dental Assistant	$32,701.73	$19,483
62	Baker	$32,755.50	$28,842
63	Education and Training Technician	$32,942.90	$750
64	Medical Technician	$33,038.19	$144
65	Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work	$33,077.36	$23,708
66	Pharmacy Technician	$33,179.94	$700
67	Rubber Equipment Repairman	$33,309.00	$33,309
68	Telecommunications Processer	$33,443.25	$21,257
69	Animal Caretaker	$33,459.17	$20,536
70	Autopsy Assistant	$33,569.11	$21,518
71	Oiler Diesel	$33,601.00	$33,601
72	Soil Conservation Technician	$33,609.76	$17,328
73	Laboratory Support Worker	$33,658.46	$25,837
74	Unlicensed Junior Engineer	$33,770.60	$33,740
75	Insurance Accountant	$33,909.47	$25,825
76	Statistical Assistant	$33,984.65	$21,257
77	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$34,016.61	$100
78	Chief Cook	$34,032.00	$34,032
79	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$34,088.10	$22
80	Veterinary Student Trainee	$34,295.14	$29,821
81	Irrigation System Operator	$34,377.24	$21,257
82	Surveying Technician	$34,504.34	$17,568
83	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$34,521.41	$19,483
84	Information Technology Student Trainee	$34,584.20	$19,483
85	Social Science Aid and Technician	$34,694.63	$17,906
86	Cemetery Caretaker	$34,743.05	$20,599
87	Health Aid and Technician	$34,777.43	$22
88	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$34,913.50	$26,609
89	Supply Clerk and Technician	$35,038.90	$1,476
90	Laundry Machine Operator	$35,042.57	$18,700
91		$35,144.00	$34,985
92	Road Sweeper Operator	$35,722.50	$29,364
93	Social Science Student Trainee	$35,881.18	$17,911
94	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$35,894.97	$19,168
95	Medical Records Technician	$35,930.78	$375
96	Communications Clerk	$35,941.42	$21,257
97	Voucher Examiner	$36,086.19	$21,257
98	Tractor Operator	$36,386.60	$200
99	Explosives Operator	$36,418.00	$36,418
100	Farmer	$36,439.06	$21,246

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.