100 least popular jobs in America

“Erickson Stock // Shutterstock” Pinpointing which jobs are the country’s least popular can tell you something about the direction an economy is going. That’s because industries that once thrived might have lost ground to technological or other advances and have few job openings. Others with many opportunities for employment might be growing. Of course, jobs can be unpopular or uncommon for many reasons. On the TV show “Dirty Jobs,” host Mike Rowe is seen farming deer for urine and relocating beavers–clearly, employment that’s not for everyone. Other jobs might require years of education or training or be limited to certain geographical areas. Stacker ranked the 100 least popular jobs in America, based on their total employment and using May 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Only detailed job categories were included in the analysis. Every position’s number of total workers in the United States is listed alongside its average annual wage and average hourly wage. Read on to see if you hold one of the least popular jobs in the country. #100. Archivists Stokkete // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 7,230 – Median hourly wage: $28.19 – Median annual wage: $58,640 #99. Helpers–extraction workers Kzenon // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,910 – Median hourly wage: $20.73 – Median annual wage: $43,110 #98. Layout workers, metal and plastic Glen Jones // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,890 – Median hourly wage: $28.01 – Median annual wage: $58,260 #97. Signal and track switch repairers APChanel // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,880 – Median hourly wage: $39.09 – Median annual wage: $81,300 #96. Statistical assistants Golubovy // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,710 – Median hourly wage: $23.50 – Median annual wage: $48,880 #95. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders Brian Goodman // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,640 – Median hourly wage: $15.71 – Median annual wage: $32,680 #94. Exercise physiologists Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,580 – Median hourly wage: $24.69 – Median annual wage: $51,350 #93. Desktop publishers GOLFX // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,560 – Median hourly wage: $23.04 – Median annual wage: $47,910 #92. Fish and game wardens ZikG // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,530 – Median hourly wage: $28.61 – Median annual wage: $59,500 #91. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic Pixel B // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,470 – Median hourly wage: $20.41 – Median annual wage: $42,450 #89. Architecture teachers, postsecondary Jacob Lund // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,420 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $93,220 #89. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders Canva – Total nationwide employment: 6,420 – Median hourly wage: $20.62 – Median annual wage: $42,890 #88. Musical instrument repairers and tuners Canva – Total nationwide employment: 6,330 – Median hourly wage: $18.34 – Median annual wage: $38,150 #87. Orthodontists Canva – Total nationwide employment: 6,310 – Median hourly wage: $83.83 – Median annual wage: $174,360 #86. Extraction workers, all other LaKirr // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,290 – Median hourly wage: $24.81 – Median annual wage: $51,600 #85. Hydrologists Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,270 – Median hourly wage: $41.34 – Median annual wage: $85,990 #84. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers Syda Productions // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,250 – Median hourly wage: $36.42 – Median annual wage: $75,760 #83. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,240 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $83,040 #82. Agricultural workers, all other Canva – Total nationwide employment: 6,100 – Median hourly wage: $17.17 – Median annual wage: $35,720 #81. Forest and conservation workers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 6,080 – Median hourly wage: $15.51 – Median annual wage: $32,270 #80. Pourers and casters, metal Max Mark Agnor // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 6,070 – Median hourly wage: $21.67 – Median annual wage: $45,070 #79. Nuclear technicians Krysja // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 5,880 – Median hourly wage: $48.28 – Median annual wage: $100,420 #78. Helpers–roofers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,790 – Median hourly wage: $17.80 – Median annual wage: $37,020 #77. Costume attendants Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 5,730 – Median hourly wage: $23.30 – Median annual wage: $48,470 #76. Political scientists Desizned // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 5,660 – Median hourly wage: $61.55 – Median annual wage: $128,020 #75. Disc jockeys, except radio viktoriia varvashchenko // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 5,640 – Median hourly wage: $21.34 – Median annual wage: Not available #74. Nuclear power reactor operators Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 5,450 – Median hourly wage: $55.71 – Median annual wage: $115,870 #73. Choreographers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,400 – Median hourly wage: $24.52 – Median annual wage: $50,990 #72. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,380 – Median hourly wage: $17.44 – Median annual wage: $36,280 #71. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,320 – Median hourly wage: $20.16 – Median annual wage: $41,940 #70. Dentists, all other specialists Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,250 – Median hourly wage: $102.28 – Median annual wage: $212,740 #69. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,210 – Median hourly wage: $30.73 – Median annual wage: $63,920 #68. Proofreaders and copy markers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 5,120 – Median hourly wage: $21.83 – Median annual wage: $45,410 #67. Correspondence clerks Canva – Total nationwide employment: 4,970 – Median hourly wage: $18.61 – Median annual wage: $38,700 #65. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary Jacob Lund // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,930 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $85,000 #65. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other ALPA PROD // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,930 – Median hourly wage: $13.11 – Median annual wage: $27,260 #64. Gambling managers HannaTor // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,800 – Median hourly wage: $38.80 – Median annual wage: $80,710 #63. Craft artists Robilad Co // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,760 – Median hourly wage: $18.34 – Median annual wage: $38,150 #62. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters Fortish // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,710 – Median hourly wage: $27.24 – Median annual wage: $56,670 #61. Fallers Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 4,530 – Median hourly wage: $23.64 – Median annual wage: $49,160 #60. Library science teachers, postsecondary Canva – Total nationwide employment: 4,330 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $76,370 #59. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons Canva – Total nationwide employment: 4,290 – Median hourly wage: # – Median annual wage: # #58. Floor sanders and finishers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 4,270 – Median hourly wage: $22.14 – Median annual wage: $46,060 #57. Telephone operators Canva – Total nationwide employment: 4,030 – Median hourly wage: $18.43 – Median annual wage: $38,330 #55. Embalmers NKM999 // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,950 – Median hourly wage: $23.99 – Median annual wage: $49,910 #55. Log graders and scalers TFoxFoto // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,950 – Median hourly wage: $20.37 – Median annual wage: $42,370 #54. Rock splitters, quarry Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,910 – Median hourly wage: $22.12 – Median annual wage: $46,010 #53. Commercial divers Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,860 – Median hourly wage: $32.84 – Median annual wage: $68,300 #52. Mathematical science occupations, all other Erickson Stock // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,840 – Median hourly wage: $34.47 – Median annual wage: $71,700 #51. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,740 – Median hourly wage: $28.84 – Median annual wage: $59,990 #50. Occupational therapy aides Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,710 – Median hourly wage: $17.82 – Median annual wage: $37,060 #49. Bridge and lock tenders Denys Yelmanov // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,690 – Median hourly wage: $22.73 – Median annual wage: $47,280 #48. Manufactured building and mobile home installers indykb // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,630 – Median hourly wage: $17.70 – Median annual wage: $36,820 #47. Logging workers, all other Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,490 – Median hourly wage: $22.65 – Median annual wage: $47,110 #46. Sewers, hand Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,440 – Median hourly wage: $15.16 – Median annual wage: $31,530 #45. Transit and railroad police JL IMAGES // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,370 – Median hourly wage: $33.25 – Median annual wage: $69,150 #44. Model makers, metal and plastic Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,350 – Median hourly wage: $27.70 – Median annual wage: $57,620 #43. Geography teachers, postsecondary GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,340 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $81,920 #42. Pile driver operators Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,290 – Median hourly wage: $30.92 – Median annual wage: $64,310 #41. Genetic counselors Canva – Total nationwide employment: 3,220 – Median hourly wage: $43.26 – Median annual wage: $89,990 #40. Medical dosimetrists Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,190 – Median hourly wage: $62.01 – Median annual wage: $128,970 #39. Historians Agenturfotografin // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,120 – Median hourly wage: $31.03 – Median annual wage: $64,540 #38. Motorboat operators Dmitry Dven // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,110 – Median hourly wage: $19.92 – Median annual wage: $41,430 #37. Fabric and apparel patternmakers Sergii Kovalov // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 3,070 – Median hourly wage: $29.00 – Median annual wage: $60,320 #36. Sociologists Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,980 – Median hourly wage: $47.40 – Median annual wage: $98,590 #35. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance Kokulina // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,970 – Median hourly wage: $46.33 – Median annual wage: $96,370 #34. Shoe machine operators and tenders Olaf Speier // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,960 – Median hourly wage: $15.89 – Median annual wage: $33,060 #33. Crematory operators SimonTheSorcerer // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,930 – Median hourly wage: $19.40 – Median annual wage: $40,360 #32. Hydrologic technicians Photodiem // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,920 – Median hourly wage: $28.06 – Median annual wage: $58,360 #31. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers APChanel // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,680 – Median hourly wage: $27.09 – Median annual wage: $56,340 #30. Animal scientists Pressmaster // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,520 – Median hourly wage: $33.36 – Median annual wage: $69,390 #29. Hoist and winch operators Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,440 – Median hourly wage: $28.34 – Median annual wage: $58,950 #28. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,420 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $76,440 #27. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists NancyS // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,290 – Median hourly wage: $23.13 – Median annual wage: $48,110 #26. Underground mining machine operators, all other Peruphotart // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,270 – Median hourly wage: $30.86 – Median annual wage: $64,180 #25. Rail transportation workers, all other Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,240 – Median hourly wage: $20.33 – Median annual wage: $42,280 #24. Patternmakers, metal and plastic Funtay // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,230 – Median hourly wage: $26.43 – Median annual wage: $54,970 #23. Paperhangers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,220 – Median hourly wage: $21.60 – Median annual wage: $44,930 #22. Astronomers abriendomundo // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,160 – Median hourly wage: $61.70 – Median annual wage: $128,330 #21. Camera and photographic equipment repairers Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,120 – Median hourly wage: $21.18 – Median annual wage: $44,060 #19. Mathematicians Kenishirotie //Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 2,070 – Median hourly wage: $53.90 – Median annual wage: $112,110 #19. Models Canva – Total nationwide employment: 2,070 – Median hourly wage: $20.73 – Median annual wage: $43,130 #18. Motion picture projectionists Canva – Total nationwide employment: 1,900 – Median hourly wage: $16.04 – Median annual wage: $33,360 #17. Watch and clock repairers Canva – Total nationwide employment: 1,880 – Median hourly wage: $23.25 – Median annual wage: $48,370 #16. Roof bolters, mining Causeway // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,700 – Median hourly wage: $28.95 – Median annual wage: $60,210 #15. Agricultural engineers Budimir Jevtic // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,500 – Median hourly wage: $40.03 – Median annual wage: $83,260 #14. Terrazzo workers and finishers Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,460 – Median hourly wage: $25.16 – Median annual wage: $52,330 #13. Geographers Adwo // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,360 – Median hourly wage: $42.74 – Median annual wage: $88,900 #12. Industrial-organizational psychologists fizkes // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,280 – Median hourly wage: $66.96 – Median annual wage: $139,280 #10. Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,270 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Median annual wage: $96,500 #10. Animal breeders goodluz // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 1,270 – Median hourly wage: $21.79 – Median annual wage: $45,320 #9. Communications equipment operators, all other Canva – Total nationwide employment: 1,240 – Median hourly wage: $22.20 – Median annual wage: $46,180 #8. Dredge operators motodan // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 940 – Median hourly wage: $22.64 – Median annual wage: $47,090 #7. Pediatric surgeons beerkoff // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 780 – Median hourly wage: # – Median annual wage: # #6. Model makers, wood Canva – Total nationwide employment: 720 – Median hourly wage: $22.57 – Median annual wage: $46,940 #5. Cooks, private household carlesmiro // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 610 – Median hourly wage: $18.54 – Median annual wage: $38,570 #4. Refractory materials repairers, except brick masons Canva – Total nationwide employment: 580 – Median hourly wage: $24.30 – Median annual wage: $50,550 #3. Farm labor contractors Canva – Total nationwide employment: 550 – Median hourly wage: $23.72 – Median annual wage: $49,330 #2. Timing device assemblers and adjusters PRESSLAB // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 370 – Median hourly wage: $20.33 – Median annual wage: $42,290 #1. Patternmakers, wood Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock – Total nationwide employment: 330 – Median hourly wage: $21.29 – Median annual wage: $44,290   Data reporting by Paxtyn Merten. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire.