Special Report

This Is the Worst Job in America According to Data

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: December 2, 2023 12:34 pm

There are many jobs in the United States that have long hours, low pay, few benefits, clueless managers, or all of the above. Many Americans work in these positions that come with an exceptionally poor combination of low pay and higher incidences of injuries, from carpal tunnel syndrome to serious spinal injury. On top of that, many of these positions are declining in numbers, which increases job insecurity.

A total of 495 occupations with data were considered to find the worst jobs in America. 24/7 Wall St. constructed an occupation index comprising three measures — projected employment growth, wages, and nonfatal injury and illness rate — using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The three measures were weighed equally, which resulted in an occupation index score between zero and 100. Based on these measures, the lower the score, the worse the job. 

People who weld, solder, or operate related machinery have the highest incidence of nonfatal workplace accidents, with 1,338 injuries per 10,000 workers, according to government figures. They earn a median annual wage of just $32,300, well below the median of $45,760 for all workers. On top of these issues, demand for these workers, currently numbered at about 32,000 nationwide, is projected to fall by nearly 8% by 2031, as robots continue to replace people in many manufacturing positions.

Demand for nursing assistants and orderlies is growing as the U.S. population ages, but the workers needed to fill these positions barely earn a median annual salary of $30,000 (less for orderlies). Their rate of musculoskeletal injuries is comparable to firefighters and is way higher than police officers, construction workers, and even registered nurses, thanks to repeatedly lifting patients without assistance or protective gear. (Also see the labor laws your boss doesn’t want you to know about.)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is estimated that by 2031 there will be 4.7% more jobs in these occupations than the 1.34 million nursing assistants and 46,000 orderlies in the workforce as of 2021. However, the projected growth for all jobs is even higher, at 5.3%

The worst jobs with the largest number of workers are nursing assistants, followed by licensed vocational nurses (entry-level health care providers), correctional officers, and paramedics. The fastest-growing jobs with high nonfatal injury rates are athletes, occupational therapy aides, and psychiatric technicians (aides who work in mental health facilities). (While these are jobs with high nonfatal injury rates, here are the 23 deadliest jobs in America.)

With the exception of four professions, all of these jobs pay less than the $45,760 median wage for all workers, and all jobs except for athletes pay less than $49,000 annually full-time. Ambulance drivers earn the least among these occupations, at $29,120. Three other jobs earn less than $30,000: tire repairers, florists, and orderlies.

Here are the worst jobs in America.

25. Tire repairers and changers

Sunday Morning Suckiness (CC BY 2.0) by Kurt Nordstrom

• Occupation index score: 41.6 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 3.1% – #199 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $29,580 – #38 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 368.3 per 10,000 employees – #25 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 95,300

24. Pourers and casters, metal

Source: simonkr / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 41.1 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -12.5% – #29 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $45,850 – #216 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 261.8 per 10,000 employees – #54 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 6,700

23. Grinding and polishing workers, hand

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• Occupation index score: 41.0 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -18.7% – #13 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $35,670 – #91 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 92.3 per 10,000 employees – #206 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 16,100

22. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians

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• Occupation index score: 40.8 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -1.0% – #113 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $29,120 – #24 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 333.2 per 10,000 employees – #34 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 11,900

21. Athletes and sports competitors

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• Occupation index score: 40.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 35.7% – #492 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $77,300 – #411 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 1,280.5 per 10,000 employees – #2 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 15,800

20. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers

Source: serts / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 40.6 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -17.9% – #17 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $38,360 – #164 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 139.7 per 10,000 employees – #137 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 11,400

19. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

Source: Omar Osman / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 40.6 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -7.9% – #56 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $38,430 – #167 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 300.8 per 10,000 employees – #42 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 6,300

18. Floral designers

Source: Prostock-Studio / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 40.5 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -21.0% – #9 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $29,880 – #49 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 28.7 per 10,000 employees – #363 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 44,400

17. Data entry keyers

Source: alexisdc / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 40.5 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -24.7% – #4 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $35,630 – #90 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 13.1 per 10,000 employees – #430 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 155,900

16. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

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• Occupation index score: 40.3 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 6.3% – #318 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $48,070 – #268 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 608.4 per 10,000 employees – #9 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 657,200

15. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

Source: gmnicholas / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 40.0 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -23.4% – #7 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $40,670 – #188 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 92.4 per 10,000 employees – #205 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 9,200

14. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics

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• Occupation index score: 39.8 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 6.9% – #336 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $36,930 – #117 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 554.2 per 10,000 employees – #11 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 261,000

13. Switchboard operators, including answering service

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• Occupation index score: 39.6 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -24.0% – #6 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $30,150 – #64 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 21.3 per 10,000 employees – #394 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 49,000

12. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders

Source: sbayram / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 38.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -15.1% – #24 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $33,990 – #85 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 227.3 per 10,000 employees – #69 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 17,000

11. Print binding and finishing workers

Source: johnnyscriv / Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 38.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -24.8% – #3 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $36,590 – #107 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 93.8 per 10,000 employees – #201 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 42,200

10. Cutters and trimmers, hand

Source: bluecinema / iStock / Getty Images Plus

• Occupation index score: 37.0 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -28.4% – #2 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $30,230 – #66 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 56.7 per 10,000 employees – #281 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 8,200

9. Word processors and typists

Source: Ralf Geithe / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 36.1 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -38.2% – #1 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $44,030 – #195 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 40.3 per 10,000 employees – #327 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 46,100

8. Telephone operators

Source: PeopleImages / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 35.1 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -24.5% – #5 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $37,630 – #139 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 249.8 per 10,000 employees – #61 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 4,000

7. Psychiatric aides

Source: LPETTET / Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 32.3 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 4.6% – #266 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $30,260 – #67 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 771.9 per 10,000 employees – #7 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 41,000

6. Correctional officers and jailers

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• Occupation index score: 31.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -10.3% – #39 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $47,920 – #261 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 688.1 per 10,000 employees – #8 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 402,200

5. Psychiatric technicians

Source: Spotmatik / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 31.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 10.9% – #407 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $36,570 – #104 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 941.8 per 10,000 employees – #5 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 98,000

4. Occupational therapy aides

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• Occupation index score: 31.4 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 13.6% – #426 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $33,560 – #84 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 975.0 per 10,000 employees – #4 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 3,500

3. Orderlies

Source: SDI Productions / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 29.3 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 4.7% – #271 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $29,990 – #58 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 887.8 per 10,000 employees – #6 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 46,200

2. Nursing assistants

Source: wanderluster / E+ via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 26.0 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: 4.7% – #271 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $30,310 – #68 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 1,023.8 per 10,000 employees – #3 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 1,343,700

1. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders

Source: Ekkasit Jokthong / iStock via Getty Images

• Occupation index score: 14.7 out of 100
• Projected growth, 2021-2031: -7.9% – #56 smallest change of 495 occupations
• Median wage, 2021: $38,580 – #171 lowest of 495 occupations
• Injury and illness rate, 2020: 1,337.6 per 10,000 employees – #1 highest of 495 occupations
• Employment, 2021: 32,300

Methodology

To find the worst jobs in America, 24/7 Wall St. constructed an occupation index comprising three measures — projected employment growth, wages, and nonfatal injury and illness rate — using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each measure was normalized and weighted equally in the index, resulting in an occupation index score between zero and 100. The lower the score, the worse the job based on these measures. 

Projected employment growth from 2021 to 2031 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections program. Median annual wage for 2021 is for non-farm wage and salary workers only and came from the same source, citing the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program of the BLS. Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers in 2020 came from the BLS’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Data. A total of 495 occupations with data were considered.