The Worst Jobs in America

Dockworkers, also known as longshoremen, are some of the least well compensated workers in the country, with a median annual wage nearly $10,000 less than the typical U.S. job. The job requires hours of strenuous physical labor as workers work to load and unload ship cargo. This type of work, with heavy boxes and pallets, can also be dangerous and lead to injuries.

Bad weather, heavy traffic, and unruly passengers are among the many stressors bus drivers face while on the job. Though bus drivers are typically required to obtain a commercial driver’s license before they can start working, they are not especially well compensated. The profession’s median annual wage is about $42,000, as compared to the median American annual wage of $37,690

Chefs work a difficult and demanding job. As the head of the kitchen, they oversee all food preparation at restaurants and other establishments. The job can be stressful as chefs must ensure all food is prepared correctly, quickly, and to the customers’ specifications. Chefs often work a non-traditional schedule, including late nights, weekends, and holidays. These shifts require chefs to spend hours on their feet.

Fighting fires is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in America. These emergency workers must often face dangerous infernos — either in a manmade structure or in the wild as wildfires are becoming more frequent. Beyond the stress and danger of rushing into life threatening situations, firefighters also have a schedule that can be taxing. They must be on call for shifts that typically last about 24 hours, eating and sleeping at the fire station.

There are many unpleasant aspects of being a pest control worker. Beyond dealing with roaches, rats, termites, and more, pest control workers must often bend and crawl their way into tight spaces to search for and eliminate pests. Many of these workers also must use pesticides, which are toxic and can be extremely harmful if not handled properly. Pest control work is one of the lower paid jobs in the country, with a median annual wage of $35,610 — about $2,000 less than the median American job.