Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2017

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2017, ranked by average pay. In 2017, the worst paying job was "Internal Revenue Officer," with an average yearly pay of $344. The second worst paying job, "Compliance Inspection And Support," follows with an average of $378, which is a 9.88% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Internal Revenue Officer	$343.86	$200
2	Compliance Inspector	$378.06	$35
3	Internal Revenue Agent	$379.88	$100
4	Hearings and Appeals Personnel	$416.18	$38
5	United States Marshal	$450.43	$153
6		$500.00	$500
7	Correctional Officer	$549.28	$100
8	Customs and Border Protection Personnel	$636.86	$2
9		$673.29	$35
10	Nuclear Materials Courier	$676.47	$250
11	Police Officer	$736.13	$50
12	Border Patrol Enforcer	$800.19	$130
13	Investigative Analyst	$847.68	$150
14	Buffing and Polishing Personnel	$894.55	$800
15	Miscellaneous Machine Tool Work	$953.57	$400
16	Intelligence Personnel	$957.02	$77
17	Packaging Machine Operator	$983.82	$150
18	Heat Treater	$995.67	$153
19	Intelligence Aid and Clerk	$1,000.00	$1,000
20	General Investigator	$1,054.20	$100
21	Criminal Investigator	$1,127.80	$77
22	Metal Forming Machine Operator	$1,504.87	$50
23	Nuclear Engineer	$1,656.76	$100
24	Production Machinery Mechanic	$2,427.47	$200
25	Toolmaker	$11,642.00	$200
26	Miscellaneous Metal Work	$18,633.63	$300
27	Work Unit Supervisor	$23,014.58	$153
28	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$27,599.85	$23,966
29	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$28,888.44	$26,421
30	Sales Store Clerk	$30,144.58	$24,537
31	Biological Science Student Trainee	$31,410.15	$21,316
32	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$31,618.58	$21,225
33	Electromotive Equipment Mechanic	$32,059.00	$327
34	Messenger	$32,081.00	$27,841
35	Laundry Worker	$32,469.26	$19,305
36	Food Service Worker	$32,857.17	$17,113
37		$33,474.06	$100
38	General Student Trainee	$33,515.02	$21,316
39	Custodial Worker	$33,813.69	$19,305
40	Wiper	$34,122.00	$34,122
41	Information Receptionist	$34,197.99	$300
42	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$34,495.68	$26,150
43	Supply Student Trainee	$35,114.83	$31,283
44	Plant Protection Technician	$35,369.62	$24,091
45	Data Transcriber	$35,451.20	$26,150
46	Materials Expediter	$35,474.75	$153
47	Laborer	$35,475.23	$20,077
48	Sandblaster	$35,729.00	$35,729
49	Guide	$35,806.85	$350
50	Physical Science Student Trainee	$36,092.44	$21,316
51		$36,116.26	$23,966
52	Mail and File Employee	$36,177.62	$460
53	Investigation Student Trainee	$36,379.85	$250
54	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$36,852.62	$21,316
55	Insects Production Worker	$37,540.40	$28,446
56	Telephone Operator	$37,674.12	$26,150
57	Second Cook	$38,103.84	$37,962
58	Language Clerk	$38,191.86	$27,022
59	Nursing Assistant	$38,438.29	$500
60	Laboratory Worker	$38,465.08	$27,256
61	Communications Clerk	$38,617.00	$30,334
62	Sewing Machine Operator	$38,853.34	$29,510
63	Financial Management Student Trainee	$39,154.31	$24,253
64	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$39,444.67	$36,281
65	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$39,559.73	$153
66	Statistical Assistant	$39,638.69	$383
67	Oiler	$39,989.88	$39,547
68	Medical Technician	$40,206.53	$26,150
69	Clerk-Typist	$40,302.48	$23,547
70		$40,383.50	$30,252
71	Insurance Accountant	$40,519.71	$34,826
72	Telecommunications Processer	$40,807.32	$29,356
73		$40,885.30	$327
74	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$41,174.03	$34,122
75	Medical Support Assistant	$41,217.36	$26,150
76	Information Technology Student Trainee	$41,290.58	$1,500
77	Able Seaman	$41,540.81	$41,032
78	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$41,612.76	$23,966
79	Tools and Parts Attendant	$41,664.47	$1,400
80	Miscellaneous General Services and Support Worker	$41,791.16	$23,729
81		$42,229.91	$23,547
82	Cash Processer	$42,250.43	$28,394
83	Equipment Operator	$42,310.32	$29,356
84	Irrigation System Operator	$42,318.04	$26,150
85	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$42,453.83	$24,934
86	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$42,469.86	$74
87		$42,478.32	$900
88	Engine Utilityman	$42,543.00	$42,418
89	Laundry Machine Operator	$42,951.23	$24,021
90	Education Student Trainee	$43,038.75	$31,549
91	Autopsy Assistant	$43,132.75	$36,130
92	Animal Caretaker	$43,348.78	$27,894
93	Transportation Student Trainee	$43,372.67	$26,915
94	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$43,382.28	$300
95	Security Guard	$43,604.39	$25,559
96	Supply Clerk and Technician	$43,632.77	$153
97	Dental Assistant	$43,666.58	$23,966
98	Range Technician	$43,937.29	$26,150
99	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$43,986.36	$27,332
100	Fingerprint Identifier	$44,087.64	$77

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.