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100 least popular jobs in America

Written by:
Aine Givens
June 2, 2023
Gumpanat // Shutterstock

100 least popular jobs in America

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.

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A woman pulls out documents in a file cabinet.
1 / 100
Stokkete // Shutterstock

#100. Archivists

- Total nationwide employment: 7,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Median annual wage: $58,640

Heavy machinery workers in a discussion.
2 / 100
Kzenon // Shutterstock

#99. Helpers--extraction workers

- Total nationwide employment: 6,910
- Median hourly wage: $20.73
- Median annual wage: $43,110

A worker uses a welding torch on a piece of metal.
3 / 100
Glen Jones // Shutterstock

#98. Layout workers, metal and plastic

- Total nationwide employment: 6,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Median annual wage: $58,260

Railroad workers check the track for repairs.
4 / 100
APChanel // Shutterstock

#97. Signal and track switch repairers

- Total nationwide employment: 6,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.09
- Median annual wage: $81,300

Two colleagues look at a statistical analysis.
5 / 100
Golubovy // Shutterstock

#96. Statistical assistants

- Total nationwide employment: 6,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Median annual wage: $48,880

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A worker dyes some fabric blue.
6 / 100
Brian Goodman // Shutterstock

#95. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders

- Total nationwide employment: 6,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Median annual wage: $32,680

A man on a treadmill is monitored by a doctor.
7 / 100
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#94. Exercise physiologists

- Total nationwide employment: 6,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Median annual wage: $51,350

A woman at a desk works on a computer.
8 / 100
GOLFX // Shutterstock

#93. Desktop publishers

- Total nationwide employment: 6,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Median annual wage: $47,910

A California Fish & Wildlife badge on the side of a car.
9 / 100
ZikG // Shutterstock

#92. Fish and game wardens

- Total nationwide employment: 6,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Median annual wage: $59,500

Workers bore a hole in a metal piece.
10 / 100
Pixel B // Shutterstock

#91. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Total nationwide employment: 6,470
- Median hourly wage: $20.41
- Median annual wage: $42,450

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Two men work on an architectural model of a house.
11 / 100
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#89. Architecture teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 6,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $93,220

A technician works on a furnace blower fan.
12 / 100
Canva

#89. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders

- Total nationwide employment: 6,420
- Median hourly wage: $20.62
- Median annual wage: $42,890

A man uses a tool to tune a piano.
13 / 100
Canva

#88. Musical instrument repairers and tuners

- Total nationwide employment: 6,330
- Median hourly wage: $18.34
- Median annual wage: $38,150

A patient waits for a dental procedure.
14 / 100
Canva

#87. Orthodontists

- Total nationwide employment: 6,310
- Median hourly wage: $83.83
- Median annual wage: $174,360

Workers at an oil drilling site.
15 / 100
LaKirr // Shutterstock

#86. Extraction workers, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 6,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.81
- Median annual wage: $51,600

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A hydrologist takes a water sample.
16 / 100
Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock

#85. Hydrologists

- Total nationwide employment: 6,270
- Median hourly wage: $41.34
- Median annual wage: $85,990

A farm worker checks on cows eating food.
17 / 100
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#84. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Total nationwide employment: 6,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Median annual wage: $75,760

Researchers examine a tide pool.
18 / 100
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock

#83. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 6,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $83,040

An agricultural worker in a wheat field.
19 / 100
Canva

#82. Agricultural workers, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 6,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Median annual wage: $35,720

A forest worker looks at a tree while holding a chainsaw.
20 / 100
Canva

#81. Forest and conservation workers

- Total nationwide employment: 6,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Median annual wage: $32,270

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Molten metal being poured into a casting.
21 / 100
Max Mark Agnor // Shutterstock

#80. Pourers and casters, metal

- Total nationwide employment: 6,070
- Median hourly wage: $21.67
- Median annual wage: $45,070

A worker getting gear checked for radioactivity.
22 / 100
Krysja // Shutterstock

#79. Nuclear technicians

- Total nationwide employment: 5,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.28
- Median annual wage: $100,420

Workers installing clay tiles on a roof.
23 / 100
Canva

#78. Helpers--roofers

- Total nationwide employment: 5,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Median annual wage: $37,020

Colorful costumes on hangars.
24 / 100
Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock

#77. Costume attendants

- Total nationwide employment: 5,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.30
- Median annual wage: $48,470

Three people on large stairway outside a building.
25 / 100
Desizned // Shutterstock

#76. Political scientists

- Total nationwide employment: 5,660
- Median hourly wage: $61.55
- Median annual wage: $128,020

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A DJ uses a digital turntable.
26 / 100
viktoriia varvashchenko // Shutterstock

#75. Disc jockeys, except radio

- Total nationwide employment: 5,640
- Median hourly wage: $21.34
- Median annual wage: Not available

A woman with a headset in front of a computer.
27 / 100
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#74. Nuclear power reactor operators

- Total nationwide employment: 5,450
- Median hourly wage: $55.71
- Median annual wage: $115,870

A ballet instructor works with students.
28 / 100
Canva

#73. Choreographers

- Total nationwide employment: 5,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Median annual wage: $50,990

Photography equipment on a wood table.
29 / 100
Canva

#72. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators

- Total nationwide employment: 5,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Median annual wage: $36,280

A woman sharpens a tool.
30 / 100
Canva

#71. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

- Total nationwide employment: 5,320
- Median hourly wage: $20.16
- Median annual wage: $41,940

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A patient in a chair getting dental work.
31 / 100
Canva

#70. Dentists, all other specialists

- Total nationwide employment: 5,250
- Median hourly wage: $102.28
- Median annual wage: $212,740

A wheel loader works in a mine.
32 / 100
Canva

#69. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining

- Total nationwide employment: 5,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Median annual wage: $63,920

A proofreader works on documents.
33 / 100
Canva

#68. Proofreaders and copy markers

- Total nationwide employment: 5,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.83
- Median annual wage: $45,410

A woman writes in a notebook.
34 / 100
Canva

#67. Correspondence clerks

- Total nationwide employment: 4,970
- Median hourly wage: $18.61
- Median annual wage: $38,700

A teacher helps a student with a laptop.
35 / 100
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#65. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 4,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $85,000

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A man gives a ticket to an entertainment attendant.
36 / 100
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

#65. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 4,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Median annual wage: $27,260

A view of the casino floor at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
37 / 100
HannaTor // Shutterstock

#64. Gambling managers

- Total nationwide employment: 4,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Median annual wage: $80,710

A craft artist works on a piece of jewelry.
38 / 100
Robilad Co // Shutterstock

#63. Craft artists

- Total nationwide employment: 4,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.34
- Median annual wage: $38,150

Part of a building is imploded by explosives.
39 / 100
Fortish // Shutterstock

#62. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

- Total nationwide employment: 4,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Median annual wage: $56,670

A logging worker cuts up a tree.
40 / 100
Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

#61. Fallers

- Total nationwide employment: 4,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.64
- Median annual wage: $49,160

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A librarian helps a customer.
41 / 100
Canva

#60. Library science teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 4,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $76,370

An oral surgeon works on a patient.
42 / 100
Canva

#59. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

- Total nationwide employment: 4,290
- Average hourly wage: $148.76 (Median not provided)
- Average annual wage: $309,410 (Median not provided)

A sander being used on a wood floor.
43 / 100
Canva

#58. Floor sanders and finishers

- Total nationwide employment: 4,270
- Median hourly wage: $22.14
- Median annual wage: $46,060

A woman on a headset talking with a customer.
44 / 100
Canva

#57. Telephone operators

- Total nationwide employment: 4,030
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Median annual wage: $38,330

A casket sits with flowers on it.
45 / 100
NKM999 // Shutterstock

#55. Embalmers

- Total nationwide employment: 3,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Median annual wage: $49,910

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A log grader at work in a log yard.
46 / 100
TFoxFoto // Shutterstock

#55. Log graders and scalers

- Total nationwide employment: 3,950
- Median hourly wage: $20.37
- Median annual wage: $42,370

A rock splitter works at a quarry.
47 / 100
Canva

#54. Rock splitters, quarry

- Total nationwide employment: 3,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.12
- Median annual wage: $46,010

A commercial diver works on a project.
48 / 100
Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

#53. Commercial divers

- Total nationwide employment: 3,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Median annual wage: $68,300

A woman works on a math problem.
49 / 100
Erickson Stock // Shutterstock

#52. Mathematical science occupations, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 3,840
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Median annual wage: $71,700

A gas compressor operator checks the system.
50 / 100
Canva

#51. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Total nationwide employment: 3,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Median annual wage: $59,990

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A therapy aid works with a child.
51 / 100
Canva

#50. Occupational therapy aides

- Total nationwide employment: 3,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Median annual wage: $37,060

A marine worker looks through binoculars.
52 / 100
Denys Yelmanov // Shutterstock

#49. Bridge and lock tenders

- Total nationwide employment: 3,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.73
- Median annual wage: $47,280

A flat bed hauler carries a manufactured home.
53 / 100
indykb // Shutterstock

#48. Manufactured building and mobile home installers

- Total nationwide employment: 3,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Median annual wage: $36,820

A pile of logs await processing.
54 / 100
Canva

#47. Logging workers, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 3,490
- Median hourly wage: $22.65
- Median annual wage: $47,110

A piece of fabric being sewed by hand.
55 / 100
Canva

#46. Sewers, hand

- Total nationwide employment: 3,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Median annual wage: $31,530

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A parked transit police vehicle.
56 / 100
JL IMAGES // Shutterstock

#45. Transit and railroad police

- Total nationwide employment: 3,370
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Median annual wage: $69,150

Two people discuss a model of a car.
57 / 100
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#44. Model makers, metal and plastic

- Total nationwide employment: 3,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Median annual wage: $57,620

A geography teacher points to Africa on a map.
58 / 100
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#43. Geography teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 3,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $81,920

A heavy machine drives a pile at a construction site.
59 / 100
Canva

#42. Pile driver operators

- Total nationwide employment: 3,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Median annual wage: $64,310

A fertility doctor consults with a couple.
60 / 100
Canva

#41. Genetic counselors

- Total nationwide employment: 3,220
- Median hourly wage: $43.26
- Median annual wage: $89,990

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A dosimetrist gives radiation treatment to a patient.
61 / 100
Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock

#40. Medical dosimetrists

- Total nationwide employment: 3,190
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Median annual wage: $128,970

A woman with a laptop sits in front of a bookcase.
62 / 100
Agenturfotografin // Shutterstock

#39. Historians

- Total nationwide employment: 3,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Median annual wage: $64,540

A motorboat operator steers his watercraft.
63 / 100
Dmitry Dven // Shutterstock

#38. Motorboat operators

- Total nationwide employment: 3,110
- Median hourly wage: $19.92
- Median annual wage: $41,430

An apparel patternmaker measures some fabric.
64 / 100
Sergii Kovalov // Shutterstock

#37. Fabric and apparel patternmakers

- Total nationwide employment: 3,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Median annual wage: $60,320

An overhead view of a professional meeting.
65 / 100
Canva

#36. Sociologists

- Total nationwide employment: 2,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Median annual wage: $98,590

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A makeup artist gets a performer ready.
66 / 100
Kokulina // Shutterstock

#35. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

- Total nationwide employment: 2,970
- Median hourly wage: $46.33
- Median annual wage: $96,370

A worker repairs a shoe.
67 / 100
Olaf Speier // Shutterstock

#34. Shoe machine operators and tenders

- Total nationwide employment: 2,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Median annual wage: $33,060

Decorative urns sit on display.
68 / 100
SimonTheSorcerer // Shutterstock

#33. Crematory operators

- Total nationwide employment: 2,930
- Median hourly wage: $19.40
- Median annual wage: $40,360

A hydrologic technician writes in a notebook.
69 / 100
Photodiem // Shutterstock

#32. Hydrologic technicians

- Total nationwide employment: 2,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Median annual wage: $58,360

A rail worker walks on rail station platform.
70 / 100
APChanel // Shutterstock

#31. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers

- Total nationwide employment: 2,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Median annual wage: $56,340

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Farmers in a conversation near some cows.
71 / 100
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#30. Animal scientists

- Total nationwide employment: 2,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.36
- Median annual wage: $69,390

A worker guides a hoist and winch operator.
72 / 100
Canva

#29. Hoist and winch operators

- Total nationwide employment: 2,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Median annual wage: $58,950

A man teaches a class with students.
73 / 100
Canva

#28. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 2,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $76,440

Workers clear limbs and debris in the forest.
74 / 100
NancyS // Shutterstock

#27. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

- Total nationwide employment: 2,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Median annual wage: $48,110

Workers operate heavy machinery in a mine.
75 / 100
Peruphotart // Shutterstock

#26. Underground mining machine operators, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 2,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Median annual wage: $64,180

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A worker fixes a stretch of rail.
76 / 100
Canva

#25. Rail transportation workers, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 2,240
- Median hourly wage: $20.33
- Median annual wage: $42,280

A worker pours molten metal into a cast.
77 / 100
Funtay // Shutterstock

#24. Patternmakers, metal and plastic

- Total nationwide employment: 2,230
- Median hourly wage: $26.43
- Median annual wage: $54,970

Two men hanging wallpaper.
78 / 100
Canva

#23. Paperhangers

- Total nationwide employment: 2,220
- Median hourly wage: $21.60
- Median annual wage: $44,930

A man sets up a high-powered telescope.
79 / 100
abriendomundo // Shutterstock

#22. Astronomers

- Total nationwide employment: 2,160
- Median hourly wage: $61.70
- Median annual wage: $128,330

A worker repairs a digital camera.
80 / 100
Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

#21. Camera and photographic equipment repairers

- Total nationwide employment: 2,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.18
- Median annual wage: $44,060

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Parts of a math problem appear on a piece of paper.
81 / 100
Kenishirotie //Shutterstock

#19. Mathematicians

- Total nationwide employment: 2,070
- Median hourly wage: $53.90
- Median annual wage: $112,110

A model with a hat poses for a photo.
82 / 100
Canva

#19. Models

- Total nationwide employment: 2,070
- Median hourly wage: $20.73
- Median annual wage: $43,130

A projectionist at work in a theater.
83 / 100
Canva

#18. Motion picture projectionists

- Total nationwide employment: 1,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Median annual wage: $33,360

A wristwatch being fixed.
84 / 100
Canva

#17. Watch and clock repairers

- Total nationwide employment: 1,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Median annual wage: $48,370

A heavy machine attaches large bolts the ceiling of a mine.
85 / 100
Causeway // Shutterstock

#16. Roof bolters, mining

- Total nationwide employment: 1,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Median annual wage: $60,210

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An agricultural worker checks soil makeup.
86 / 100
Budimir Jevtic // Shutterstock

#15. Agricultural engineers

- Total nationwide employment: 1,500
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Median annual wage: $83,260

Workers polish a floor.
87 / 100
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

#14. Terrazzo workers and finishers

- Total nationwide employment: 1,460
- Median hourly wage: $25.16
- Median annual wage: $52,330

A man looks at a rock in a desolate landscape.
88 / 100
Adwo // Shutterstock

#13. Geographers

- Total nationwide employment: 1,360
- Median hourly wage: $42.74
- Median annual wage: $88,900

Workers listen to a coworker at a meeting.
89 / 100
fizkes // Shutterstock

#12. Industrial-organizational psychologists

- Total nationwide employment: 1,280
- Median hourly wage: $66.96
- Median annual wage: $139,280

Students examine soil and plant life.
90 / 100
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock

#10. Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary

- Total nationwide employment: 1,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $96,500

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A worker feeds milk to a baby goat.
91 / 100
goodluz // Shutterstock

#10. Animal breeders

- Total nationwide employment: 1,270
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Median annual wage: $45,320

A woman with a headset sits in front of a computer.
92 / 100
Canva

#9. Communications equipment operators, all other

- Total nationwide employment: 1,240
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Median annual wage: $46,180

Heavy machinery doing dredging work in a river.
93 / 100
motodan // Shutterstock

#8. Dredge operators

- Total nationwide employment: 940
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Median annual wage: $47,090

A pediatric surgeon at work.
94 / 100
beerkoff // Shutterstock

#7. Pediatric surgeons

- Total nationwide employment: 780
- Average hourly wage: $174.51 (Median not provided)
- Average annual wage: $362,970 (Median not provided)

A worker makes a model out of wood.
95 / 100
Canva

#6. Model makers, wood

- Total nationwide employment: 720
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Median annual wage: $46,940

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A chef prepares a dish to serve.
96 / 100
carlesmiro // Shutterstock

#5. Cooks, private household

- Total nationwide employment: 610
- Median hourly wage: $18.54
- Median annual wage: $38,570

Heated refractory material at foundry.
97 / 100
Canva

#4. Refractory materials repairers, except brick masons

- Total nationwide employment: 580
- Median hourly wage: $24.30
- Median annual wage: $50,550

Farm laborers working in a field.
98 / 100
Canva

#3. Farm labor contractors

- Total nationwide employment: 550
- Median hourly wage: $23.72
- Median annual wage: $49,330

A man assembles a timing device.
99 / 100
PRESSLAB // Shutterstock

#2. Timing device assemblers and adjusters

- Total nationwide employment: 370
- Median hourly wage: $20.33
- Median annual wage: $42,290

A worker makes a measurement on a piece of wood.
100 / 100
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

#1. Patternmakers, wood

- 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. 

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