Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2011

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2011, ranked by average pay. In 2011, the worst paying job was "Stationary-engine Operating," with an average yearly pay of $8,327. The second worst paying job, "Barbering," follows with an average of $13,954, which is a 67.58% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Stationary-engine Operator	$8,326.64	$50
2	Barber	$13,954.25	$120
3	Elevator Operator	$19,827.00	$19,827
4	Sales Store Clerk	$21,448.57	$16,571
5	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$26,537.97	$22,851
6	Messenger	$28,160.78	$22,851
7	Food Service Worker	$30,918.11	$16,174
8	Guide	$30,951.30	$20,324
9	Laundry Worker	$31,189.36	$18,783
10	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$31,252.50	$26,401
11	Information Receptionist	$31,698.56	$22,851
12	Plant Protection Technician	$32,295.86	$20,324
13	Custodial Worker	$32,473.82	$300
14	Laborer	$32,957.05	$200
15	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$33,009.96	$25,764
16	Wiper	$33,060.67	$32,532
17	Insects Production Worker	$33,188.51	$23,228
18	Transportation Student Trainee	$33,214.14	$24,624
19	Quality Inspection Student Trainee	$33,234.33	$31,315
20	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$33,929.09	$20,992
21	Ofc Automation Clerk and Assistant	$33,977.81	$152
22	Mail and File Employee	$34,074.53	$200
23	Clerk-Typist	$34,162.90	$22,115
24	Data Transcriber	$34,242.94	$1,700
25	Telephone Operator	$34,316.43	$24,933
26	Biological Science Student Trainee	$34,338.43	$20,324
27	Administration and Office Support Student Trainee	$34,629.27	$20,324
28	Supply Student Trainee	$34,902.31	$27,990
29	Ordinary Seaman	$35,500.00	$35,500
30	Financial Management Student Trainee	$35,518.37	$22,115
31	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$35,980.04	$1,250
32	Nursing Assistant	$36,241.50	$120
33	Second Cook	$36,506.71	$36,193
34	Investigation Student Trainee	$36,568.40	$25,764
35	Language Clerk	$36,646.64	$24,933
36	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$36,687.00	$35,208
37	General Student Trainee	$36,770.37	$500
38	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$36,770.85	$20,324
39	Range Technician	$36,912.05	$22,851
40	Sewing Machine Operator	$37,063.87	$25,378
41	Medical Support Assistant	$37,585.56	$785
42	Engineer and Architecture Student Trainee	$37,592.04	$350
43	Autopsy Assistant	$37,900.21	$27,990
44	Human Resources Management Student Trainne	$37,944.21	$22,851
45	Oiler	$38,000.20	$37,704
46	Equipment Operator	$38,031.50	$22,851
47	Store Worker	$38,127.50	$36,606
48	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$38,149.26	$24,865
49	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$38,280.81	$24,933
50	Physical Science Student Trainee	$38,358.26	$21,124
51	Equipment and Facilities Management Student Trainee	$38,600.47	$24,933
52	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$38,631.92	$32,532
53	Biological Science Technician	$38,644.92	$742
54	Forestry Technician	$38,659.73	$408
55	Statistical Assistant	$38,744.45	$27,990
56	Miscellaneous Transportation/Mobile Equipment Operator	$38,788.68	$26,922
57	Laboratory Worker	$38,788.92	$25,962
58	Information Technology Student Trainee	$38,909.34	$20,733
59	Insurance Accountant	$38,920.85	$31,865
60	Cash Processer	$38,931.85	$23,640
61	Medical Technician	$39,170.78	$22,269
62	Able Seaman (Maintenance)	$39,432.44	$39,120
63	Compliance Inspector	$39,664.11	$1,500
64	Able Seaman	$39,789.90	$35,018
65	Dispatcher	$40,209.58	$24,933
66	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$40,317.83	$350
67	Telecommunications Processer	$40,468.86	$24,933
68	Animal Caretaker	$40,508.01	$26,588
69	Security Guard	$40,530.14	$21,741
70	Engine Utilityman	$40,587.13	$40,442
71	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$40,592.51	$100
72	Correspondence Clerk	$40,622.53	$24,933
73	Communications Clerk	$40,675.47	$28,922
74	Social Science Aid and Technician	$40,745.02	$445
75	Livestock Ranching/Wrangling	$40,759.00	$40,759
76	Dental Assistant	$40,809.35	$22,851
77	Pharmacy Technician	$40,880.06	$325
78	Mathematician and Statistics Student Trainne	$40,973.61	$27,990
79	Soil Conservation Technician	$41,164.25	$20,324
80	Survey Technician	$41,352.92	$500
81	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$41,511.59	$1,114
82	Farmer	$41,514.19	$23,207
83	Health Aid and Technician	$41,701.41	$300
84	Irrigation System Operator	$41,865.80	$24,933
85	Supply Clerk and Technician	$41,871.58	$500
86	Laundry Machine Operator	$41,917.61	$500
87	Copyright and Patent Student Trainee	$41,982.00	$41,982
88	Education Student Trainee	$42,034.66	$27,595
89	Security Clerk and Assistant	$42,313.89	$1,050
90	Voucher Examiner	$42,575.57	$24,933
91	Economics Assistant	$42,605.57	$24,933
92	Laboratory Support Worker	$42,639.15	$35,127
93	Tools and Parts Attendant	$42,989.73	$31,639
94	Cemetery Caretaker	$42,995.53	$24,209
95	Veterinary Student Trainee	$43,056.56	$27,130
96	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$43,199.59	$333
97	Environmental Protection Assistant	$43,202.28	$20,324
98	Miscellaneous General Equipment Maintenance Worker	$43,328.86	$100
99	Social Science Student Trainee	$43,503.48	$23,395
100	Food Inspector	$43,556.00	$30,020

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.