Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2019

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2019, ranked by average pay. In 2019, the worst paying job was "Sales Store Clerical," with an average yearly pay of $25,357. The second worst paying job, "Agricultural Commodity Aid," follows with an average of $28,327, which is a 11.71% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Sales Store Clerk	$25,357.13	$20,870
2	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$28,326.70	$24,773
3	Biological Science Student Trainee	$31,119.84	$22,033
4	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$31,603.14	$27,131
5	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$32,421.30	$20,870
6	Messenger	$32,585.30	$24,773
7	Supply Student Trainee	$33,204.00	$30,344
8	Data Transcriber	$33,416.48	$24,972
9	General Student Trainee	$33,492.34	$22,033
10	Laundry Worker	$33,705.81	$20,870
11	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$34,237.82	$24,773
12		$34,614.60	$22,033
13	Food Service Worker	$34,766.65	$20,870
14	Custodial Worker	$34,835.74	$20,870
15	Wiper	$35,268.00	$35,268
16	Information Receptionist	$35,312.78	$26,877
17	Language Clerk	$35,815.67	$29,869
18	Plant Protection Technician	$35,846.51	$24,773
19	Guide	$35,895.83	$22,033
20	Mail and File Employee	$36,321.09	$25,156
21	Physical Science Student Trainee	$36,804.04	$24,773
22	Laborer	$36,906.55	$20,494
23	Telephone Operator	$37,055.94	$27,030
24	Insects Production Worker	$37,929.83	$29,051
25		$38,398.20	$28,177
26		$38,524.48	$25,475
27	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$38,918.46	$5,006
28	Second Cook	$39,484.00	$39,237
29	Communications Clerk	$39,618.36	$31,382
30	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$39,826.20	$24,773
31	Nursing Assistant	$39,904.54	$26,877
32	Laboratory Worker	$40,058.12	$32,140
33	Investigation Student Trainee	$40,216.15	$30,219
34	Forestry Technician	$40,300.06	$22,033
35	Statistical Assistant	$40,430.67	$30,344
36	Sewing Machine Operator	$40,696.50	$29,218
37	Miscellaneous General Services and Support Worker	$40,785.19	$26,609
38	Oiler	$41,141.14	$40,874
39	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$41,479.07	$27,030
40	Medical Technician	$41,680.96	$27,154
41	Financial Management Student Trainee	$42,200.77	$24,773
42		$42,425.32	$24,633
43		$42,436.82	$24,773
44	Education Student Trainee	$42,518.73	$33,925
45	Telecommunications Processer	$42,618.44	$30,344
46	Clerk-Typist	$42,726.06	$35,058
47	Medical Support Assistant	$42,749.04	$27,030
48	Information Technology Student Trainee	$42,759.88	$27,030
49	Biological Science Technician	$42,822.81	$22,033
50		$42,851.66	$27,030
51	Able Seaman	$42,883.08	$42,410
52	Cash Processer	$43,123.89	$27,154
53	Supply Clerk and Technician	$43,177.14	$20,870
54	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$43,224.59	$35,268
55	Range Technician	$43,422.29	$24,773
56	Store Worker	$43,639.00	$43,639
57	Equipment Operator	$43,766.47	$30,344
58	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$43,964.18	$9,484
59	Irrigation System Operator	$44,093.50	$30,344
60	Laundry Machine Operator	$44,136.34	$22,957
61	Engine Utilityman	$44,423.17	$43,842
62		$44,666.28	$30,053
63	Security Guard	$44,999.20	$27,030
64	Social Science Student Trainee	$45,165.08	$23,974
65	Dispatcher	$45,313.99	$30,344
66	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$45,317.66	$26,734
67	Animal Caretaker	$45,410.46	$29,051
68	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$45,418.20	$37,955
69	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$45,455.99	$29,923
70	Dental Assistant	$45,629.54	$24,773
71	Pharmacy Technician	$45,980.21	$24,773
72	Laboratory Support Worker	$46,135.88	$42,909
73	General Telecommunications Employee	$46,246.71	$36,456
74	Civilian	$46,332.59	$30,344
75	Aircraft Attendent	$46,432.71	$37,858
76	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$46,493.17	$27,030
77	Transportation Clerk and Assistant	$46,604.23	$32,298
78	Voucher Examiner	$46,694.40	$30,344
79	Veterinary Student Trainee	$46,952.48	$27,030
80	Health Aid and Technician	$47,105.21	$24,824
81	Tractor Operator	$47,209.13	$33,329
82	Survey Technician	$47,237.74	$27,030
83	Packing	$47,239.62	$39,653
84	Economics Assistant	$47,307.30	$27,696
85	Farmer	$47,364.50	$35,667
86	Tax Examiner	$47,788.88	$30,344
87	Cemetery Caretaker	$47,816.58	$22,957
88	Hazardous Waste Disposer	$47,942.53	$39,590
89	Unlicensed Junior Engineer	$48,119.00	$48,009
90	Security Clerk and Assistant	$48,137.08	$30,344
91	Motor Vehicle Operator	$48,300.69	$22,957
92	Purchasing	$48,302.18	$32,366
93	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$48,343.59	$38,776
94	Locomotive Engineer	$48,544.00	$48,544
95	Food Inspector	$48,613.74	$33,949
96	Human Resources Assistance	$48,672.95	$27,154
97	Claims Assistance and Examining Personnel	$48,687.26	$31,355
98	Financial Clerk and Assistant	$48,736.09	$30,344
99	Soil Conservation Technician	$48,843.35	$24,773
100	Tools and Parts Attendant	$48,992.84	$29,218

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.