Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2008

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2008, ranked by average pay. In 2008, the worst paying job was "Deck Midshipman," with an average yearly pay of $10,681. The second worst paying job, "Barbering," follows with an average of $13,036, which is a 22.05% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Deck Midshipman	$10,681.00	$10,681
2	Barber	$13,036.25	$100
3	Elevator Operator	$19,480.00	$19,259
4	Sales Store Clerk	$20,163.74	$15,131
5	Copyright and Patent Student Trainee	$23,667.00	$23,667
6	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$25,100.72	$21,691
7	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$25,936.25	$22,748
8	Messenger	$27,789.18	$21,691
9	Mathematics Technician	$27,901.00	$27,423
10	Plant Protection Technician	$28,505.22	$19,165
11	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$28,976.58	$19,165
12	Laundry Worker	$29,169.03	$17,426
13	Food Service Worker	$29,239.74	$14,797
14	Guide	$29,283.77	$20,075
15	Information Receptionist	$29,581.48	$18
16	Laborer	$30,214.03	$17,573
17	Custodial Worker	$30,320.89	$17,343
18	Transportation Student Trainee	$30,555.44	$22,988
19	Wiper	$31,098.33	$30,590
20	Insects Production Worker	$31,270.33	$20,953
21	Clerk-Typist	$31,589.04	$500
22	Ordinary Seaman	$31,736.00	$30,590
23	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$31,752.44	$17,046
24	Biological Science Student Trainee	$32,144.31	$21,691
25	Telephone Operator	$32,351.66	$23,667
26	Supply Student Trainee	$32,460.00	$23,736
27	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$32,719.28	$21,691
28	Mail and File Employee	$32,742.55	$19,293
29	Data Transcriber	$32,765.51	$21,691
30	Financial Management Student Trainee	$33,197.62	$20,607
31	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$33,263.07	$23,667
32	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$33,782.02	$26,569
33	Nursing Assistant	$33,905.20	$19,293
34	General Student Trainee	$33,968.14	$21,691
35	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$34,146.36	$20,911
36	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$34,290.58	$19,293
37	Second Cook	$34,342.19	$34,036
38	Able Seaman	$34,373.42	$32,926
39	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$34,505.98	$1,250
40	Range Technician	$34,546.10	$21,691
41	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$34,821.67	$23,025
42	Medical Support Assistant	$34,959.44	$550
43	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$35,065.73	$22,026
44	Investigation Student Trainee	$35,079.20	$23,975
45	Sewing Machine Operator	$35,092.50	$24,084
46	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$35,455.72	$30,590
47	Forestry Technician	$35,668.12	$687
48	Physical Science Student Trainee	$35,828.15	$21,161
49	Oiler	$36,056.50	$35,952
50	Compliance Inspector	$36,194.35	$459
51	Language Clerk	$36,199.00	$31,000
52	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$36,217.00	$35,917
53	Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operator	$36,235.01	$25,065
54	Statistical Assistant	$36,337.22	$26,569
55	Biological Science Technician	$36,432.48	$17,046
56	Autopsy Assistant	$36,436.53	$26,569
57	Equipment Operator	$36,464.47	$21,691
58	Laboratory Worker	$36,570.17	$24,627
59	Medical Technician	$36,636.03	$20,793
60	Correspondence Clerk	$36,688.82	$26,569
61	Dispatcher	$36,805.62	$23,667
62	Security Guard	$37,008.32	$20,021
63	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$37,198.00	$37,090
64	Dental Assistant	$37,241.22	$20,911
65	Cash Processer	$37,269.64	$23,667
66	Miscellaneous Lens and Crystal Work	$37,458.00	$37,458
67	Insurance Accountant	$37,498.58	$31,376
68	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$37,505.58	$23,667
69	Animal Caretaker	$37,765.43	$22,164
70	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$37,840.24	$19,293
71	Pharmacy Technician	$37,873.51	$1,950
72	Information Technology Student Trainee	$38,133.85	$21,691
73	Social Science Aid and Technician	$38,221.69	$19,165
74	Telecommunications Processer	$38,377.34	$23,667
75	Engine Utilityman	$38,519.00	$38,099
76	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$38,639.48	$100
77	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$38,748.89	$21,691
78	Social Science Student Trainee	$38,770.01	$23,667
79	Irrigation System Operator	$38,788.47	$25,245
80	Health Aid and Technician	$38,842.73	$516
81	Communications Clerk	$38,965.50	$27,455
82	Laboratory Support Worker	$39,144.86	$33,085
83	Laundry Machine Operator	$39,182.23	$19,263
84	Mathematician and Statistics Student Trainne	$39,456.88	$28,111
85	Voucher Examiner	$39,507.76	$26,264
86	Supply Clerk and Technician	$39,646.07	$15,673
87	Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work	$39,804.68	$25,524
88	Cemetery Caretaker	$40,101.24	$23,938
89	Soil Conservation Technician	$40,214.54	$19,293
90	Survey Technician	$40,296.65	$21,691
91	Mechanical Parts Repairman	$40,324.00	$35,667
92	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$40,635.62	$1,000
93	Food Inspector	$40,925.60	$23,667
94	Seaman/Fisherman	$41,113.48	$32,926
95	Tractor Operator	$41,239.03	$23,834
96	Baker	$41,302.00	$41,302
97	Incinerator Operator	$41,303.00	$34,436
98	Economics Assistant	$41,499.83	$26,569
99	Practical Nurse	$41,601.09	$20,911
100	Security Clerk and Assistant	$41,644.93	$23,667

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.