Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2009

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2009, ranked by average pay. In 2009, the worst paying job was "Barbering," with an average yearly pay of $13,830. The second worst paying job, "Elevator Operating," follows with an average of $19,798, which is a 43.15% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Barber	$13,829.75	$371
2	Elevator Operator	$19,797.60	$19,472
3	Sales Store Clerk	$20,824.45	$15,673
4	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$26,194.24	$22,454
5	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$27,265.25	$24,647
6	Messenger	$27,995.60	$22,444
7	Plant Protection Technician	$29,963.22	$19,721
8	Food Service Worker	$30,315.90	$14,818
9	Laundry Worker	$30,449.23	$17,426
10	Guide	$30,502.64	$19,971
11	Information Receptionist	$30,673.54	$306
12	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$30,909.44	$19,721
13	Custodial Worker	$31,592.57	$1,250
14	Laborer	$31,797.10	$18,616
15	Insects Production Worker	$31,962.74	$21,830
16	Wiper	$32,220.67	$31,857
17	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$32,812.47	$742
18	Ordinary Seaman	$32,952.25	$31,857
19	Supply Student Trainee	$33,016.00	$22,454
20	Mail and File Employee	$33,089.28	$150
21	Biological Science Student Trainee	$33,233.53	$19,971
22	Clerk-Typist	$33,265.74	$21,592
23	Transportation Student Trainee	$33,268.29	$25,277
24	Telephone Operator	$33,279.35	$22,454
25	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$33,360.49	$19,971
26	Data Transcriber	$33,535.03	$50
27	Financial Management Student Trainee	$33,567.40	$21,592
28	Investigation Student Trainee	$34,322.28	$24,156
29	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$34,678.87	$26,591
30	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$34,776.62	$1,500
31	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$35,010.17	$19,971
32	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$35,312.33	$31,431
33	Nursing Assistant	$35,319.19	$600
34	Statistical Assistant	$35,391.45	$27,504
35	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$35,556.52	$22,454
36	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$35,631.22	$19,971
37	Store Worker	$35,834.00	$35,834
38	General Student Trainee	$35,834.26	$22,454
39	Range Technician	$35,839.20	$22,454
40	Second Cook	$35,862.91	$35,445
41	Able Seaman	$36,250.08	$34,291
42	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$36,430.36	$25,093
43	Forestry Technician	$36,635.40	$148
44	Sewing Machine Operator	$36,667.35	$25,837
45	Medical Support Assistant	$36,671.94	$75
46	Physical Science Student Trainee	$36,692.60	$24,156
47	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$37,163.81	$23,912
48	Dispatcher	$37,256.74	$24,499
49	Biological Science Technician	$37,325.93	$306
50	Autopsy Assistant	$37,494.37	$27,504
51	Oiler	$37,499.29	$36,923
52	Equipment Operator	$37,506.62	$22,454
53	Laboratory Worker	$37,950.49	$24,627
54	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$37,959.10	$31,857
55	Correspondence Clerk	$38,002.33	$24,499
56	Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operator	$38,146.88	$26,275
57	Medical Technician	$38,150.92	$21,396
58	Compliance Inspector	$38,360.26	$750
59	Information Technology Student Trainee	$38,427.27	$22,454
60	Language Clerk	$38,658.67	$33,003
61	Cash Processer	$38,711.08	$24,499
62	Security Guard	$38,712.34	$22,016
63	Social Science Aid and Technician	$38,809.34	$1,000
64	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$38,836.86	$38,310
65	Dental Assistant	$38,902.14	$21,517
66	Insurance Accountant	$39,026.45	$30,772
67	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$39,310.30	$19,971
68	Animal Caretaker	$39,478.91	$23,082
69	Pharmacy Technician	$39,545.73	$22,454
70	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$39,690.94	$100
71	Education Student Trainee	$39,938.65	$24,499
72	Telecommunications Processer	$39,989.10	$24,499
73	Engine Utilityman	$40,134.75	$40,047
74	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$40,283.79	$24,156
75	Communications Clerk	$40,284.05	$27,504
76	Survey Technician	$40,301.07	$22,454
77	Irrigation System Operator	$40,331.53	$24,499
78	Health Aid and Technician	$40,381.34	$1,000
79	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$40,506.63	$22,454
80	Cemetery Caretaker	$40,734.68	$22,957
81	Miscellaneous Lens and Crystal Work	$40,757.00	$40,757
82	Laundry Machine Operator	$40,767.18	$19,263
83	Laboratory Support Worker	$40,840.30	$33,872
84	Voucher Examiner	$40,866.32	$27,026
85	Supply Clerk and Technician	$41,041.97	$350
86	Engineer Trainee	$41,210.00	$41,210
87	Soil Conservation Technician	$41,478.64	$19,721
88	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$41,648.81	$24,156
89	Social Science Student Trainee	$41,675.94	$22,454
90	Security Clerk and Assistant	$42,094.61	$767
91	Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work	$42,313.34	$26,547
92	Farmer	$42,350.68	$22,853
93	Livestock Ranching/Wrangling	$42,468.80	$31,555
94	Mechanical Parts Repairman	$42,470.33	$37,691
95	Tools and Parts Attendant	$42,505.39	$29,886
96	Cement Finisher	$42,768.67	$31,889
97	Economics Assistant	$42,769.30	$24,499
98	Tractor Operator	$42,800.60	$25,712
99	Food Inspector	$42,841.27	$27,026
100	Seaman/Fisherman	$43,177.61	$34,291

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.