Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2005

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2005, ranked by average pay. In 2005, the worst paying job was "Barbering," with an average yearly pay of $7,767. The second worst paying job, "Sales Store Clerical," follows with an average of $18,359, which is a 136.37% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Barber	$7,767.44	$165
2	Sales Store Clerk	$18,359.28	$13,419
3	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$23,775.86	$20,117
4	Copyright and Patent Student Trainee	$24,641.00	$24,641
5	Wiper	$24,789.17	$24,783
6	Ordinary Seaman	$24,795.33	$24,783
7	Laundry Worker	$27,100.22	$16,133
8	Food Service Worker	$27,184.03	$200
9	Guide	$27,442.16	$20,117
10	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$27,468.98	$17,893
11	Laborer	$27,490.15	$16,049
12	Plant Protection Technician	$27,546.36	$17,893
13	Second Cook	$27,631.20	$27,579
14	Information Receptionist	$27,634.16	$17,893
15	Insects Production Worker	$27,724.49	$16,049
16	Supply Student Trainee	$27,895.00	$24,641
17	Custodial Worker	$28,000.04	$250
18	Biological Science Student Trainee	$28,050.59	$17,893
19	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$28,761.25	$24,783
20	Financial Management Student Trainee	$28,820.97	$18,575
21	Oiler	$28,848.60	$28,732
22	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$29,198.75	$139
23	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$29,544.46	$2,584
24	Mail and File Employee	$29,667.44	$200
25	Able Seaman	$29,735.25	$26,677
26	Telephone Operator	$29,906.72	$21,950
27	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$29,944.00	$29,809
28	Data Transcriber	$30,060.90	$20,117
29	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$30,367.67	$16,616
30	Messenger	$30,738.82	$17,893
31	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$30,938.46	$22,056
32	General Student Trainee	$31,120.64	$18,686
33	Engine Utilityman	$31,164.00	$30,806
34	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$31,216.06	$20,117
35	Transportation Student Trainee	$31,317.23	$22,903
36	Range Technician	$31,370.66	$20,117
37	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$31,515.77	$20,117
38	Nursing Assistant	$31,564.96	$50
39	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$31,576.50	$30,408
40	Mathematician and Statistics Student Trainne	$31,626.72	$20,117
41	Investigation Student Trainee	$31,669.72	$800
42	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$31,825.58	$20,117
43	Safety Technician	$31,869.36	$21,950
44	Seaman/Fisherman	$32,143.43	$24,820
45	Physical Science Student Trainee	$32,270.88	$19,647
46	Laboratory Worker	$32,339.82	$22,080
47	Medical Support Assistant	$32,406.85	$43
48	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$32,490.17	$19,647
49	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$32,591.11	$19,388
50	Sewing Machine Operator	$32,730.36	$22,164
51	Dispatcher	$32,998.81	$184
52	Clerk-Typist	$33,033.09	$18,007
53	Store Worker	$33,058.00	$33,058
54	Education Student Trainee	$33,206.29	$24,641
55	Equipment Operator	$33,384.06	$20,184
56	Security Guard	$33,460.93	$16,616
57	Biological Science Technician	$33,540.67	$16,016
58	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$33,563.46	$21,950
59	Correspondence Clerk	$33,571.89	$24,677
60	Oiler Diesel	$33,601.00	$33,601
61	Forestry Technician	$33,647.30	$382
62	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$33,649.33	$31,755
63	Unlicensed Junior Engineer	$33,750.40	$33,740
64	Insurance Accountant	$33,809.00	$26,202
65	Dental Assistant	$33,824.14	$3,333
66	Statistical Assistant	$33,890.36	$23,901
67	Cash Processer	$34,004.74	$21,950
68	Chief Cook	$34,071.00	$34,032
69	Animal Caretaker	$34,325.31	$22,101
70	Education and Training Technician	$34,407.03	$2,250
71	Medical Technician	$34,443.12	$19,537
72	Rubber Equipment Repairman	$34,519.00	$34,519
73	Telecommunications Processer	$34,534.58	$22,681
74	Pharmacy Technician	$34,617.54	$17,996
75	Soil Conservation Technician	$35,068.99	$17,893
76	Autopsy Assistant	$35,140.56	$24,677
77	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$35,143.64	$310
78	Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work	$35,166.13	$25,524
79		$35,309.25	$34,985
80	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$35,311.46	$17,893
81	Information Technology Student Trainee	$35,532.63	$160
82	Irrigation System Operator	$35,566.24	$21,950
83	Laboratory Support Worker	$35,703.54	$26,693
84	Social Science Aid and Technician	$35,792.85	$17,893
85	Cemetery Caretaker	$35,795.04	$20,181
86	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$35,906.52	$20,117
87	Health Aid and Technician	$36,104.67	$150
88	Laundry Machine Operator	$36,189.43	$19,326
89	Supply Clerk and Technician	$36,334.96	$200
90	Paper Pulping Machine Operator	$36,347.20	$35,145
91	Printing Clerk	$36,429.55	$20,117
92	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$36,685.65	$26,588
93	Surveying Technician	$36,690.91	$17,893
94	Voucher Examiner	$36,723.81	$24,641
95	Communications Clerk	$36,915.21	$28,489
96	Chief Steward	$37,101.63	$32,835
97	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$37,186.88	$20,117
98	Medical Records Technician	$37,647.84	$200
99	Road Sweeper Operator	$37,663.33	$31,493
100	Veterinary Student Trainee	$37,844.40	$34,149

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.