Lowest Paid 100 Federal Occupations in 2020

This table shows the top 100 least well-paid occupations in the federal government in 2020, ranked by average pay. In 2020, the worst paying job was "Sales Store Clerical," with an average yearly pay of $27,299. The second worst paying job, "Education Student Trainee," follows with an average of $30,295, which is a 10.97% increase.

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Rank	Occupation Title	Average Pay	Lowest Paid Individual
1	Sales Store Clerk	$27,298.77	$18,178
2	Education Student Trainee	$30,294.76	$25,500
3	Agricultural Commodity Aid	$31,064.83	$25,479
4	Supply Student Trainee	$33,559.75	$22,660
5	Biological Science Student Trainee	$33,618.94	$22,660
6	Information Receptionist	$33,651.52	$25,479
7	Information and Arts Student Trainee	$33,948.22	$25,479
8	Miscellaneous Personal Services	$34,224.84	$21,267
9	Data Transcriber	$34,338.72	$25,738
10	Laundry Worker	$34,846.62	$20,557
11	Miscellaneous Food Preparer and Server	$34,972.43	$29,948
12	Messenger	$35,326.50	$31,941
13		$35,591.13	$22,660
14	Business and Industry Student Trainee	$35,659.88	$25,479
15	Custodial Worker	$36,100.16	$20,557
16	Language Clerk	$36,264.00	$31,704
17	Wiper	$36,273.00	$36,273
18	General Student Trainee	$36,770.50	$22,660
19	Food Service Worker	$36,788.88	$18,887
20	Plant Protection Technician	$37,260.70	$25,479
21	Mail and File Employee	$37,595.91	$25,967
22	Telephone Operator	$37,959.15	$27,800
23	Laboratory Worker	$38,776.47	$34,310
24	Laborer	$38,802.60	$21,580
25	Community Planning Technician	$38,921.00	$38,921
26	Physical Science Student Trainee	$39,001.13	$27,800
27		$39,022.13	$30,481
28	Medical and Health Student Trainee	$39,076.25	$26,580
29	Guide	$39,092.75	$27,800
30	Transportation Student Trainee	$39,419.38	$31,208
31	Statistical Assistant	$39,869.48	$31,208
32	Second Cook	$40,600.14	$40,355
33	Investigation Student Trainee	$40,684.37	$31,526
34	Financial Management Student Trainee	$41,174.41	$25,479
35	Nursing Assistant	$41,195.24	$27,800
36	Sewing Machine Operator	$41,342.86	$30,115
37	Insects Production Worker	$41,627.56	$27,131
38	Clerk-Typist	$41,892.75	$30,265
39	Information Technology Student Trainee	$41,922.27	$25,500
40	Oiler	$42,413.10	$42,039
41		$42,475.20	$35,889
42	Library and Archives Student Trainee	$42,586.50	$31,208
43	Medical Technician	$42,817.41	$27,800
44	Equipment Operator	$42,932.21	$31,208
45	Cash Processer	$43,780.22	$27,800
46	Communications Clerk	$43,867.45	$31,208
47	Supply Clerk and Technician	$43,950.78	$19,493
48	Medical Support Assistant	$44,075.98	$27,800
49	Able Seaman	$44,184.55	$43,619
50	Telecommunications Processer	$44,208.48	$34,916
51	Store Worker	$44,213.00	$43,389
52		$44,253.91	$25,479
53	Laundry Machine Operator	$44,937.00	$24,627
54	Engine Utilityman	$45,091.00	$45,091
55	Recreation Aid and Assistant	$45,153.99	$29,550
56		$45,341.25	$25,479
57	Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant	$45,564.44	$9,484
58	Legal Occupations Student Trainee	$45,575.51	$27,800
59	Irrigation System Operator	$45,866.19	$27,800
60	Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs	$46,307.31	$36,273
61		$46,439.57	$27,800
62	Security Guard	$46,465.10	$25,129
63	Civilian	$46,588.77	$31,805
64		$46,769.63	$32,870
65	Animal Caretaker	$46,854.30	$32,119
66	Dental Assistant	$47,195.51	$25,479
67	Health Aid and Technician	$47,306.41	$25,479
68	Biological Science Technician	$47,433.58	$22,660
69	Social Services Aid and Assistant	$47,493.97	$31,208
70	Transportation Clerk and Assistant	$47,617.07	$31,208
71	Dispatcher	$47,678.44	$31,208
72	Tax Examiner	$47,825.37	$31,208
73	Economics Assistant	$47,881.55	$31,284
74	Pharmacy Technician	$47,886.38	$25,479
75	Work Unit Supervisor	$48,379.51	$38,921
76	Farmer	$48,571.33	$37,796
77	Veterinary Student Trainee	$48,623.46	$27,800
78	Soil Conservation Technician	$48,683.02	$27,800
79	Security Clerk and Assistant	$48,722.97	$27,800
80	Forestry Technician	$48,738.14	$25,479
81	Hazardous Waste Disposer	$48,789.00	$40,905
82	Voucher Examiner	$49,022.56	$34,916
83	Human Resources Assistance	$49,038.02	$27,975
84	Social Science Student Trainee	$49,112.09	$26,166
85	Cemetery Caretaker	$49,364.38	$25,962
86	Food Inspector	$49,387.28	$34,916
87	Tractor Operator	$49,409.68	$30,491
88	Mobile Equipment Servicing	$49,450.19	$41,239
89	Financial Clerk and Assistant	$49,470.45	$31,208
90	Purchasing	$49,595.20	$34,916
91	Unlicensed Junior Engineer	$49,707.00	$49,377
92	Medical Supply Aide and Technician	$49,722.10	$27,800
93	Instrument Mechanic	$49,787.67	$33,371
94	Seaman/Fisherman	$49,804.23	$43,619
95	Miscellaneous General Services and Support Worker	$49,882.37	$27,465
96	Tools and Parts Attendant	$50,201.92	$31,597
97	Motor Vehicle Operator	$50,268.86	$25,420
98	Art Specialist	$50,457.00	$50,457
99	Packing	$50,555.26	$43,493
100	Materials Examiner and Identifier	$50,738.33	$46,206

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.