Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2010

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2010, ranked by average pay. In 2010, the worst paying job was "Barbering," with an average yearly pay of $8,205. The second worst paying job, "Elevator Operating," follows with an average of $20,105, which is a 145.03% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Barber	$8,205.29	$150
2	Elevator Operator	$20,105.00	$19,827
3	Sales Store Clerk	$21,374.37	$15,402
4	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$26,035.33	$23,145
5	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$26,476.88	$22,851
6	Messenger	$28,054.32	$22,851
7	Supply Student Trainee	$29,456.18	$22,851
8	Food Service Worker	$30,934.51	$540
9	Guide	$30,955.50	$20,324
10	Information Receptionist	$31,205.44	$382
11	Laundry Worker	$31,252.60	$18,053
12	Plant Protection Technician	$31,460.44	$20,515
13	Quality Inspection Student Trainee	$31,815.00	$31,815
14	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$32,285.60	$20,324
15	Custodial Worker	$32,294.55	$300
16	Laborer	$32,720.68	$1,600
17	Wiper	$33,036.33	$32,532
18	Insects Production Worker	$33,080.09	$22,289
19	Mail and File Employee	$33,407.49	$500
20	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$33,505.70	$297
21	Biological Science Student Trainee	$33,813.06	$20,324
22	Data Transcriber	$33,853.27	$250
23	Ordinary Seaman	$33,897.67	$32,532
24	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$33,940.73	$25,933
25	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$34,190.41	$20,324
26	Telephone Operator	$34,243.05	$22,851
27	Financial Management Student Trainee	$34,329.13	$22,115
28	Transportation Student Trainee	$34,619.53	$25,800
29	Clerk-Typist	$34,911.00	$22,115
30	Investigation Student Trainee	$35,686.65	$24,933
31	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$35,731.04	$22,851
32	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$35,760.50	$33,517
33	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$36,079.00	$20,324
34	General Student Trainee	$36,146.74	$24,310
35	Nursing Assistant	$36,222.28	$300
36	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$36,394.31	$24,865
37	Language Clerk	$36,450.57	$27,990
38	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$36,540.88	$23,756
39	Second Cook	$36,605.23	$36,193
40	Store Worker	$36,681.00	$36,606
41	Range Technician	$36,801.10	$22,851
42	Sewing Machine Operator	$37,078.26	$26,755
43	Able Seaman	$37,151.14	$34,291
44	Physical Science Student Trainee	$37,180.48	$22,851
45	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$37,206.45	$25,500
46	Medical Support Assistant	$37,447.17	$150
47	Statistical Assistant	$37,727.18	$24,933
48	Insurance Accountant	$37,765.17	$30,010
49	Equipment Operator	$37,810.51	$352
50	Forestry Technician	$37,869.14	$400
51	Biological Science Technician	$37,929.32	$765
52	Information Technology Student Trainee	$38,013.83	$22,115
53	Autopsy Assistant	$38,019.50	$27,990
54	Oiler	$38,196.60	$37,704
55	Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operator	$38,593.12	$26,922
56	Laboratory Worker	$38,932.67	$25,503
57	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$39,068.39	$25,083
58	Medical Technician	$39,082.17	$118
59	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$39,109.99	$24,933
60	Cash Processer	$39,188.46	$100
61	Communications Clerk	$39,410.91	$27,990
62	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$39,569.83	$39,120
63	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$39,574.71	$32,532
64	Correspondence Clerk	$39,622.60	$24,933
65	Dispatcher	$39,675.02	$24,933
66	Education Student Trainee	$39,841.88	$24,933
67	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$39,904.95	$20,324
68	Social Science Aid and Technician	$39,921.07	$306
69	Dental Assistant	$39,923.63	$22,851
70	Security Guard	$40,042.57	$20,434
71	Compliance Inspector	$40,043.76	$500
72	Pharmacy Technician	$40,437.29	$100
73	Animal Caretaker	$40,439.26	$24,564
74	Art Specialist	$40,499.50	$38,790
75	Telecommunications Processer	$40,610.27	$27,990
76	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$40,795.43	$76
77	Soil Conservation Technician	$40,922.91	$20,324
78	Engine Utilityman	$40,943.60	$40,442
79	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$41,104.12	$24,933
80	Survey Technician	$41,262.85	$22,851
81	Health Aid and Technician	$41,343.58	$150
82	Irrigation System Operator	$41,720.32	$27,990
83	Supply Clerk and Technician	$41,871.83	$115
84	Voucher Examiner	$41,903.66	$27,990
85	Mathematician and Statistics Student Trainne	$41,929.04	$24,933
86	Veterinary Student Trainee	$42,118.75	$27,130
87	Laboratory Support Worker	$42,199.67	$34,582
88	Laundry Machine Operator	$42,261.48	$23,270
89	Economics Assistant	$42,649.24	$24,933
90	Tools and Parts Attendant	$42,680.36	$30,408
91	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$42,717.89	$25,675
92	Cemetery Caretaker	$42,813.77	$25,494
93	Farmer	$42,841.45	$22,790
94	Social Science Student Trainee	$42,920.48	$21,686
95	Security Clerk and Assistant	$43,066.16	$1,600
96	Miscellaneous Lens and Crystal Work	$43,082.00	$43,082
97	Seaman/Fisherman	$43,570.02	$35,018
98	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$43,574.53	$32,808
99	Food Inspector	$43,696.65	$31,315
100	Miscellaneous Plant and Animal Work	$43,785.43	$27,089

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.