Stokkete // Shutterstock
1 / 100#100. Archivists
- Total nationwide employment: 7,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Median annual wage: $58,640
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.
Kzenon // Shutterstock
2 / 100#99. Helpers--extraction workers
- Total nationwide employment: 6,910
- Median hourly wage: $20.73
- Median annual wage: $43,110
Glen Jones // Shutterstock
3 / 100#98. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Total nationwide employment: 6,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Median annual wage: $58,260
APChanel // Shutterstock
4 / 100#97. Signal and track switch repairers
- Total nationwide employment: 6,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.09
- Median annual wage: $81,300
Golubovy // Shutterstock
5 / 100#96. Statistical assistants
- Total nationwide employment: 6,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Median annual wage: $48,880
Brian Goodman // Shutterstock
6 / 100#95. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders
- Total nationwide employment: 6,640
- Median hourly wage: $15.71
- Median annual wage: $32,680
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 100#94. Exercise physiologists
- Total nationwide employment: 6,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Median annual wage: $51,350
GOLFX // Shutterstock
8 / 100#93. Desktop publishers
- Total nationwide employment: 6,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Median annual wage: $47,910
ZikG // Shutterstock
9 / 100#92. Fish and game wardens
- Total nationwide employment: 6,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Median annual wage: $59,500
Pixel B // Shutterstock
10 / 100#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
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 100#89. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 6,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $93,220
Canva
12 / 100#89. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
- Total nationwide employment: 6,420
- Median hourly wage: $20.62
- Median annual wage: $42,890
Canva
13 / 100#88. Musical instrument repairers and tuners
- Total nationwide employment: 6,330
- Median hourly wage: $18.34
- Median annual wage: $38,150
Canva
14 / 100#87. Orthodontists
- Total nationwide employment: 6,310
- Median hourly wage: $83.83
- Median annual wage: $174,360
LaKirr // Shutterstock
15 / 100#86. Extraction workers, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 6,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.81
- Median annual wage: $51,600
Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock
16 / 100#85. Hydrologists
- Total nationwide employment: 6,270
- Median hourly wage: $41.34
- Median annual wage: $85,990
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
17 / 100#84. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Total nationwide employment: 6,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Median annual wage: $75,760
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
18 / 100#83. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 6,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $83,040
Canva
19 / 100#82. Agricultural workers, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 6,100
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Median annual wage: $35,720
Canva
20 / 100#81. Forest and conservation workers
- Total nationwide employment: 6,080
- Median hourly wage: $15.51
- Median annual wage: $32,270
Max Mark Agnor // Shutterstock
21 / 100#80. Pourers and casters, metal
- Total nationwide employment: 6,070
- Median hourly wage: $21.67
- Median annual wage: $45,070
Krysja // Shutterstock
22 / 100#79. Nuclear technicians
- Total nationwide employment: 5,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.28
- Median annual wage: $100,420
Canva
23 / 100#78. Helpers--roofers
- Total nationwide employment: 5,790
- Median hourly wage: $17.80
- Median annual wage: $37,020
Linda Zupanc // Shutterstock
24 / 100#77. Costume attendants
- Total nationwide employment: 5,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.30
- Median annual wage: $48,470
Desizned // Shutterstock
25 / 100#76. Political scientists
- Total nationwide employment: 5,660
- Median hourly wage: $61.55
- Median annual wage: $128,020
viktoriia varvashchenko // Shutterstock
26 / 100#75. Disc jockeys, except radio
- Total nationwide employment: 5,640
- Median hourly wage: $21.34
- Median annual wage: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 100#74. Nuclear power reactor operators
- Total nationwide employment: 5,450
- Median hourly wage: $55.71
- Median annual wage: $115,870
Canva
28 / 100#73. Choreographers
- Total nationwide employment: 5,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Median annual wage: $50,990
Canva
29 / 100#72. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
- Total nationwide employment: 5,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.44
- Median annual wage: $36,280
Canva
30 / 100#71. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
- Total nationwide employment: 5,320
- Median hourly wage: $20.16
- Median annual wage: $41,940
Canva
31 / 100#70. Dentists, all other specialists
- Total nationwide employment: 5,250
- Median hourly wage: $102.28
- Median annual wage: $212,740
Canva
32 / 100#69. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Total nationwide employment: 5,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Median annual wage: $63,920
Canva
33 / 100#68. Proofreaders and copy markers
- Total nationwide employment: 5,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.83
- Median annual wage: $45,410
Canva
34 / 100#67. Correspondence clerks
- Total nationwide employment: 4,970
- Median hourly wage: $18.61
- Median annual wage: $38,700
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 100#65. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 4,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $85,000
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
36 / 100#65. Entertainment attendants and related workers, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 4,930
- Median hourly wage: $13.11
- Median annual wage: $27,260
HannaTor // Shutterstock
37 / 100#64. Gambling managers
- Total nationwide employment: 4,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Median annual wage: $80,710
Robilad Co // Shutterstock
38 / 100#63. Craft artists
- Total nationwide employment: 4,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.34
- Median annual wage: $38,150
Fortish // Shutterstock
39 / 100#62. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Total nationwide employment: 4,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Median annual wage: $56,670
Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock
40 / 100#61. Fallers
- Total nationwide employment: 4,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.64
- Median annual wage: $49,160
Canva
41 / 100#60. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 4,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $76,370
Canva
42 / 100#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)
Canva
43 / 100#58. Floor sanders and finishers
- Total nationwide employment: 4,270
- Median hourly wage: $22.14
- Median annual wage: $46,060
Canva
44 / 100#57. Telephone operators
- Total nationwide employment: 4,030
- Median hourly wage: $18.43
- Median annual wage: $38,330
NKM999 // Shutterstock
45 / 100#55. Embalmers
- Total nationwide employment: 3,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Median annual wage: $49,910
TFoxFoto // Shutterstock
46 / 100#55. Log graders and scalers
- Total nationwide employment: 3,950
- Median hourly wage: $20.37
- Median annual wage: $42,370
Canva
47 / 100#54. Rock splitters, quarry
- Total nationwide employment: 3,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.12
- Median annual wage: $46,010
Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock
48 / 100#53. Commercial divers
- Total nationwide employment: 3,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Median annual wage: $68,300
Erickson Stock // Shutterstock
49 / 100#52. Mathematical science occupations, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 3,840
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Median annual wage: $71,700
Canva
50 / 100#51. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Total nationwide employment: 3,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Median annual wage: $59,990
Canva
51 / 100#50. Occupational therapy aides
- Total nationwide employment: 3,710
- Median hourly wage: $17.82
- Median annual wage: $37,060
Denys Yelmanov // Shutterstock
52 / 100#49. Bridge and lock tenders
- Total nationwide employment: 3,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.73
- Median annual wage: $47,280
indykb // Shutterstock
53 / 100#48. Manufactured building and mobile home installers
- Total nationwide employment: 3,630
- Median hourly wage: $17.70
- Median annual wage: $36,820
Canva
54 / 100#47. Logging workers, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 3,490
- Median hourly wage: $22.65
- Median annual wage: $47,110
Canva
55 / 100#46. Sewers, hand
- Total nationwide employment: 3,440
- Median hourly wage: $15.16
- Median annual wage: $31,530
JL IMAGES // Shutterstock
56 / 100#45. Transit and railroad police
- Total nationwide employment: 3,370
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Median annual wage: $69,150
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
57 / 100#44. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Total nationwide employment: 3,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Median annual wage: $57,620
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
58 / 100#43. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 3,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $81,920
Canva
59 / 100#42. Pile driver operators
- Total nationwide employment: 3,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Median annual wage: $64,310
Canva
60 / 100#41. Genetic counselors
- Total nationwide employment: 3,220
- Median hourly wage: $43.26
- Median annual wage: $89,990
Mark_Kostich // Shutterstock
61 / 100#40. Medical dosimetrists
- Total nationwide employment: 3,190
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Median annual wage: $128,970
Agenturfotografin // Shutterstock
62 / 100#39. Historians
- Total nationwide employment: 3,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Median annual wage: $64,540
Dmitry Dven // Shutterstock
63 / 100#38. Motorboat operators
- Total nationwide employment: 3,110
- Median hourly wage: $19.92
- Median annual wage: $41,430
Sergii Kovalov // Shutterstock
64 / 100#37. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Total nationwide employment: 3,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Median annual wage: $60,320
Canva
65 / 100#36. Sociologists
- Total nationwide employment: 2,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Median annual wage: $98,590
Kokulina // Shutterstock
66 / 100#35. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
- Total nationwide employment: 2,970
- Median hourly wage: $46.33
- Median annual wage: $96,370
Olaf Speier // Shutterstock
67 / 100#34. Shoe machine operators and tenders
- Total nationwide employment: 2,960
- Median hourly wage: $15.89
- Median annual wage: $33,060
SimonTheSorcerer // Shutterstock
68 / 100#33. Crematory operators
- Total nationwide employment: 2,930
- Median hourly wage: $19.40
- Median annual wage: $40,360
Photodiem // Shutterstock
69 / 100#32. Hydrologic technicians
- Total nationwide employment: 2,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Median annual wage: $58,360
APChanel // Shutterstock
70 / 100#31. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
- Total nationwide employment: 2,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Median annual wage: $56,340
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
71 / 100#30. Animal scientists
- Total nationwide employment: 2,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.36
- Median annual wage: $69,390
Canva
72 / 100#29. Hoist and winch operators
- Total nationwide employment: 2,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Median annual wage: $58,950
Canva
73 / 100#28. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 2,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $76,440
NancyS // Shutterstock
74 / 100#27. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Total nationwide employment: 2,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Median annual wage: $48,110
Peruphotart // Shutterstock
75 / 100#26. Underground mining machine operators, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 2,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Median annual wage: $64,180
Canva
76 / 100#25. Rail transportation workers, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 2,240
- Median hourly wage: $20.33
- Median annual wage: $42,280
Funtay // Shutterstock
77 / 100#24. Patternmakers, metal and plastic
- Total nationwide employment: 2,230
- Median hourly wage: $26.43
- Median annual wage: $54,970
Canva
78 / 100#23. Paperhangers
- Total nationwide employment: 2,220
- Median hourly wage: $21.60
- Median annual wage: $44,930
abriendomundo // Shutterstock
79 / 100#22. Astronomers
- Total nationwide employment: 2,160
- Median hourly wage: $61.70
- Median annual wage: $128,330
Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock
80 / 100#21. Camera and photographic equipment repairers
- Total nationwide employment: 2,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.18
- Median annual wage: $44,060
Kenishirotie //Shutterstock
81 / 100#19. Mathematicians
- Total nationwide employment: 2,070
- Median hourly wage: $53.90
- Median annual wage: $112,110
Canva
82 / 100#19. Models
- Total nationwide employment: 2,070
- Median hourly wage: $20.73
- Median annual wage: $43,130
Canva
83 / 100#18. Motion picture projectionists
- Total nationwide employment: 1,900
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Median annual wage: $33,360
Canva
84 / 100#17. Watch and clock repairers
- Total nationwide employment: 1,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Median annual wage: $48,370
Causeway // Shutterstock
85 / 100#16. Roof bolters, mining
- Total nationwide employment: 1,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Median annual wage: $60,210
Budimir Jevtic // Shutterstock
86 / 100#15. Agricultural engineers
- Total nationwide employment: 1,500
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Median annual wage: $83,260
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
87 / 100#14. Terrazzo workers and finishers
- Total nationwide employment: 1,460
- Median hourly wage: $25.16
- Median annual wage: $52,330
Adwo // Shutterstock
88 / 100#13. Geographers
- Total nationwide employment: 1,360
- Median hourly wage: $42.74
- Median annual wage: $88,900
fizkes // Shutterstock
89 / 100#12. Industrial-organizational psychologists
- Total nationwide employment: 1,280
- Median hourly wage: $66.96
- Median annual wage: $139,280
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock
90 / 100#10. Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
- Total nationwide employment: 1,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Median annual wage: $96,500
goodluz // Shutterstock
91 / 100#10. Animal breeders
- Total nationwide employment: 1,270
- Median hourly wage: $21.79
- Median annual wage: $45,320
Canva
92 / 100#9. Communications equipment operators, all other
- Total nationwide employment: 1,240
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Median annual wage: $46,180
motodan // Shutterstock
93 / 100#8. Dredge operators
- Total nationwide employment: 940
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Median annual wage: $47,090
beerkoff // Shutterstock
94 / 100#7. Pediatric surgeons
- Total nationwide employment: 780
- Average hourly wage: $174.51 (Median not provided)
- Average annual wage: $362,970 (Median not provided)
Canva
95 / 100#6. Model makers, wood
- Total nationwide employment: 720
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Median annual wage: $46,940
carlesmiro // Shutterstock
96 / 100#5. Cooks, private household
- Total nationwide employment: 610
- Median hourly wage: $18.54
- Median annual wage: $38,570
Canva
97 / 100#4. Refractory materials repairers, except brick masons
- Total nationwide employment: 580
- Median hourly wage: $24.30
- Median annual wage: $50,550
Canva
98 / 100#3. Farm labor contractors
- Total nationwide employment: 550
- Median hourly wage: $23.72
- Median annual wage: $49,330
PRESSLAB // Shutterstock
99 / 100#2. Timing device assemblers and adjusters
- Total nationwide employment: 370
- Median hourly wage: $20.33
- Median annual wage: $42,290
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
100 / 100#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.
