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The Ten Worst Jobs in America 2010

Paul Toscano@paul.toscano@ToscanoPaul
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The Ten Worst Jobs in America

If you think your job is bad, think twice... unless you've got one of the "worst" jobs in America today. It isn't much of a surprise that many of these low-rated jobs overlap with the most dangerous jobs. What's more, none have an annual salary above $40,000. has released a comprehensive ranking of the worst occupations, based upon several key criteria, including salary, stress and physical demand. What are the ten worst jobs in the country? Click ahead to find out.
Source: CareerCast.com | Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

If you think your job is bad, think twice... unless you've got one of the "worst" jobs in America today. It isn't much of a surprise that many of these low-rated jobs overlap with the most dangerous jobs.

What's more, none have an annual salary above $40,000. CareerCast.comhas released a comprehensive ranking of the worst occupations, based upon several key criteria, including salary, stress and physical demand.

What are the ten worst jobs in the country? Click ahead to find out.

By Paul Toscano
Posted 6 Jan 2010

10. Mail Carrier

The job of a mail carrier has never been identified as a glorified job, with caricatured images of postal workers chased by dogs or, more realistically, spending long hours behind the wheel of a mail truck. As the tenth worst job in the country, postal service mail carriers can expect to make a median annual salary of $49,800 per year, or about $22.58 per hour.

The job of a mail carrier has never been identified as a glorified job, with caricatured images of postal workers chased by dogs or, more realistically, spending long hours behind the wheel of a mail truck. As the tenth worst job in the country, postal service mail carriers can expect to make a median annual salary of $49,800 per year, or about $22.58 per hour.

9. Meter Reader

Another rather monotonous job, a meter reader is tasked with reading public utility meters, recording the volume of consumption by utility customers. Working this job, you can expect to make between $33,000 and $37,000 per year, according to data for similar installation and maintenance jobs listed by the BLS.

Another rather monotonous job, a meter reader is tasked with reading public utility meters, recording the volume of consumption by utility customers. Working this job, you can expect to make between $33,000 and $37,000 per year, according to data for similar installation and maintenance jobs listed by the BLS.

8. Construction Worker/Laborer

Although this is a broad category with a range of skill sets for any particular job, work in the construction field tends to be physically strenuous, at times working outdoors or in poorly-ventilated conditions. CareerCast has identified this particular line of work as individuals who assist the more finely skilled construction trade workers, instead of possessing the skills themselves. Annual salaries are estimated at about $32,250 for the approximately 1,020,290 US construction laborers, accor

Although this is a broad category with a range of skill sets for any particular job, work in the construction field tends to be physically strenuous, at times working outdoors or in poorly-ventilated conditions. CareerCast has identified this particular line of work as individuals who assist the more finely skilled construction trade workers, instead of possessing the skills themselves. Annual salaries are estimated at about $32,250 for the approximately 1,020,290 US construction laborers, according to the BLS.

7. Taxi Driver

Although many taxi drivers and chauffeurs have extremely flexible schedules and generally work unsupervised, the job still ranks near the bottom. The BLS estimates there are approximately 229,000 jobs of this nature in the country. Although wages vary greatly based on location, type of company and amount of tips, the median hourly wage is $10.62.

Although many taxi drivers and chauffeurs have extremely flexible schedules and generally work unsupervised, the job still ranks near the bottom. The BLS estimates there are approximately 229,000 jobs of this nature in the country. Although wages vary greatly based on location, type of company and amount of tips, the median hourly wage is $10.62.

6. Garbage Collector

No need to describe this one. Although wages vary significantly based upon experience and responsibilities, the BLS lists median hourly earnings at just $13.93. Garbage collectors also rank as the ninth deadliest job in America, with a fatality rate of 22.8 per 100,000 jobs.

No need to describe this one. Although wages vary significantly based upon experience and responsibilities, the BLS lists median hourly earnings at just $13.93. Garbage collectors also rank as the ninth deadliest job in America, with a fatality rate of 22.8 per 100,000 jobs.

5. Welder

The job of a welder involves melting metal joints together, usually behind a protective mask and visor to prevent serious injury.  The BLS says only the top 10 percent of welders earn above $22.50 an hour.

The job of a welder involves melting metal joints together, usually behind a protective mask and visor to prevent serious injury.  The BLS says only the top 10 percent of welders earn above $22.50 an hour.

4. Dairy Farmer

Raising cattle for milk production entails strenuous labor, long hours and poor working conditions; various government estimates put net income at just over $15,000 a year. However, wages do not include government subsidies and can vary with fluctuations in commodity prices and market demand.

Raising cattle for milk production entails strenuous labor, long hours and poor working conditions; various government estimates put net income at just over $15,000 a year. However, wages do not include government subsidies and can vary with fluctuations in commodity prices and market demand.

3. Iron Worker

This job requires you to work with hot metal, usually at great heights and for little reward. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median hourly income of Iron Workers below $20. Work can be irregular at times, because of bad weather, the short-term nature of construction jobs and economic downturns. Beware: This job category has the fourth-highest fatality rate in the country, at 45.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.

This job requires you to work with hot metal, usually at great heights and for little reward. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median hourly income of Iron Workers below $20. Work can be irregular at times, because of bad weather, the short-term nature of construction jobs and economic downturns. Beware: This job category has the fourth-highest fatality rate in the country, at 45.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.

2. Lumberjack

These workers spend all their time outdoors, in poor weather, and often in isolated areas. It's also the second most deadly occupation with a fatality rate of 86.4 per 100,000 jobs per year. Long hours, a high-stress environment, strenuous work and low pay - with a median hourly wage at $13.80 - all contribute to make this the second worst job in the country.

These workers spend all their time outdoors, in poor weather, and often in isolated areas. It's also the second most deadly occupation with a fatality rate of 86.4 per 100,000 jobs per year. Long hours, a high-stress environment, strenuous work and low pay - with a median hourly wage at $13.80 - all contribute to make this the second worst job in the country.

1. Roustabout

This year’s worst job is one that you may not have heard of. If you're not sure what a Roustabout is, you're probably not alone. A relatively specialized field, roustabouts perform maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, using hand and power tools. The BLS expects the demand for roustabouts to decline slowly over the next decade. Median Salary: $29,000.

This year’s worst job is one that you may not have heard of. If you're not sure what a Roustabout is, you're probably not alone. A relatively specialized field, roustabouts perform maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, using hand and power tools. The BLS expects the demand for roustabouts to decline slowly over the next decade. Median Salary: $29,000.