Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2016

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2016, ranked by average pay. In 2016, the worst paying job was "Sales Store Clerical," with an average yearly pay of $22,026. The second worst paying job, "Misc Food Preparation And Serving," follows with an average of $26,918, which is a 22.21% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Sales Store Clerk	$22,026.24	$16,153
2	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$26,918.13	$25,336
3	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$28,203.41	$22,419
4	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$30,411.45	$26,734
5	Messenger	$30,625.17	$26,638
6	Biological Science Student Trainee	$30,890.63	$20,975
7	Laundry Worker	$31,925.45	$18,762
8	Food Service Worker	$31,958.44	$16,717
9	General Student Trainee	$32,305.87	$20,975
10		$32,686.19	$20,975
11	Custodial Worker	$33,140.43	$18,762
12	Guide	$33,540.07	$23,582
13	Wiper	$33,575.00	$33,575
14	Quality Inspection Student Trainee	$33,796.00	$33,796
15	Plant Protection Technician	$34,462.87	$23,615
16	Physical Science Student Trainee	$34,472.78	$20,975
17	Information Receptionist	$34,573.70	$23,582
18	Data Transcriber	$34,651.72	$25,617
19	Laborer	$35,138.45	$19,618
20	Copyright and Patent Student Trainee	$35,723.50	$31,521
21	Mail and File Employee	$35,851.44	$23,582
22	Insects Production Worker	$36,010.25	$26,797
23	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$36,038.93	$28,159
24	Baker	$36,147.00	$36,147
25	Telephone Operator	$36,691.29	$25,731
26		$37,182.65	$20,975
27	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$37,309.28	$25,731
28	Range Technician	$37,443.97	$23,582
29	Investigation Student Trainee	$37,467.74	$25,731
30	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$37,504.25	$20,975
31	Second Cook	$37,534.85	$37,353
32	Nursing Assistant	$37,544.17	$500
33	Information Technology Student Trainee	$37,759.30	$23,700
34	Miscellaneous General Services and Support Worker	$37,838.54	$24,355
35	Insurance Accountant	$37,868.80	$34,096
36	Sewing Machine Operator	$37,950.28	$28,947
37	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$38,048.21	$500
38	Clerk-Typist	$38,297.73	$22,888
39	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$38,582.02	$25,731
40	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$38,600.83	$24,515
41	Laboratory Worker	$38,774.66	$26,505
42	Financial Management Student Trainee	$38,825.77	$22,888
43	Statistical Assistant	$38,908.10	$28,886
44	Communications Clerk	$39,066.75	$28,886
45	Language Clerk	$39,156.80	$26,589
46	Oiler	$39,199.25	$38,913
47		$39,241.02	$22,888
48	Forestry Technician	$39,334.03	$765
49		$39,484.53	$23,582
50	Exhibits Maker/Modeler	$39,510.14	$38,589
51	Telecommunications Processer	$39,639.51	$25,731
52	Medical Technician	$39,820.81	$25,731
53	Veterinary Student Trainee	$39,989.73	$450
54	Equipment Operator	$40,172.41	$28,886
55	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$40,188.51	$33,575
56	Medical Support Assistant	$40,347.36	$506
57	Autopsy Assistant	$40,719.33	$33,395
58	Able Seaman	$40,788.00	$40,374
59	Biological Science Technician	$41,053.13	$20,975
60	Irrigation System Operator	$41,107.46	$28,886
61	Cash Processer	$41,463.47	$23,670
62	Dispatcher	$41,471.15	$28,886
63	Education Student Trainee	$41,813.25	$29,901
64	Security Clerk and Assistant	$41,974.70	$28,886
65	Supply Student Trainee	$42,078.63	$28,886
66	Correspondence Clerk	$42,147.67	$32,318
67	Engine Utilityman	$42,245.50	$41,738
68		$42,274.87	$459
69	Animal Caretaker	$42,396.52	$26,985
70	Laundry Machine Operator	$42,400.29	$23,625
71	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$42,458.82	$28,886
72	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$42,580.82	$24,154
73	Dental Assistant	$42,656.33	$23,582
74	Security Guard	$42,691.32	$21,087
75	Compliance Inspector	$42,695.33	$28,559
76	Supply Clerk and Technician	$42,729.75	$17,301
77	Voucher Examiner	$42,923.52	$31,053
78	Pharmacy Technician	$43,026.44	$23,611
79	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$43,201.79	$200
80	General Telecommunications Employee	$43,536.05	$32,318
81	Locomotive Engineer	$43,681.00	$43,681
82	Health Aid and Technician	$43,815.29	$21,882
83	Laboratory Support Worker	$43,851.33	$41,156
84		$43,903.65	$27,502
85	Transportation Clerk and Assistant	$44,005.49	$30,884
86	Survey Technician	$44,421.40	$23,582
87	Aircraft Attendent	$44,651.38	$34,331
88	Civilian	$44,691.24	$27,735
89	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$44,730.30	$150
90	Cemetery Caretaker	$44,784.70	$24,001
91	Economics Assistant	$44,860.51	$31,521
92	Food Inspector	$44,940.70	$32,318
93	Social Science Student Trainee	$44,954.77	$21,426
94	Tractor Operator	$44,961.87	$27,841
95	Social Science Aid and Technician	$44,981.87	$23,582
96	Tools and Parts Attendant	$44,987.86	$28,154
97	Farmer	$45,202.84	$26,505
98	Hazardous Waste Disposer	$45,297.64	$38,672
99	Motor Vehicle Operator	$45,682.96	$22,456
100	Soil Conservation Technician	$45,741.12	$23,582

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.