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đź‘”100 least popular jobs in America

100 least popular jobs in America, based on their total employment, using May 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Aine Givens, Stacker.com

Tags: Insider, Business, Money
FILE - "Verynile" initiative worker carries compressed plastic bottles which were collected by volunteers and fishermen from the Nile to build a Plastic Pyramid ahead of World Cleanup Day in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 The pyramid aiming to raise awareness on plastic pollution in the Nile. Negotiators from around the world gather at UNESCO in Paris on Monday, May 29, 2023, for a second round of talks aiming toward a global treaty on fighting plastic pollution in 2024. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil,File) (Amr Nabil, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

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.

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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.

Black Men Sundays talks about building generational wealth. Check out every episode in the media player below:

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.

A woman pulls out documents in a file cabinet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Golubovy // Shutterstock

#96. Statistical assistants

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

A worker dyes some fabric blue.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Two men work on an architectural model of a house.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#87. Orthodontists

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

Workers at an oil drilling site.
LaKirr // Shutterstock

#86. Extraction workers, all other

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

A hydrologist takes a water sample.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#81. Forest and conservation workers

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

Molten metal being poured into a casting.
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.
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.
Canva

#78. Helpers--roofers

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

Colorful costumes on hangars.
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.
Desizned // Shutterstock

#76. Political scientists

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

A DJ uses a digital turntable.
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.
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.
Canva

#73. Choreographers

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

Photography equipment on a wood table.
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.
Canva

#71. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

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

A patient in a chair getting dental work.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#65. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

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

A man gives a ticket to an entertainment attendant.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

#61. Fallers

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

A librarian helps a customer.
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.
Canva

#59. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

- Total nationwide employment: 4,290
- Median hourly wage: #
- Median annual wage: #

A sander being used on a wood floor.
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.
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.
NKM999 // Shutterstock

#55. Embalmers

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

A log grader at work in a log yard.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#51. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

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

A therapy aid works with a child.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#46. Sewers, hand

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

A parked transit police vehicle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#41. Genetic counselors

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

A dosimetrist gives radiation treatment to a patient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canva

#36. Sociologists

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

A makeup artist gets a performer ready.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Farmers in a conversation near some cows.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Peruphotart // Shutterstock

#26. Underground mining machine operators, all other

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

A worker fixes a stretch of rail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

#21. Camera and photographic equipment repairers

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

Parts of a math problem appear on a piece of paper.
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.
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.
Canva

#18. Motion picture projectionists

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

A wristwatch being fixed.
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.
Causeway // Shutterstock

#16. Roof bolters, mining

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

An agricultural worker checks soil makeup.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

A worker feeds milk to a baby goat.
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.
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.
motodan // Shutterstock

#8. Dredge operators

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

A pediatric surgeon at work.
beerkoff // Shutterstock

#7. Pediatric surgeons

- Total nationwide employment: 780
- Median hourly wage: #
- Median annual wage: #

A worker makes a model out of wood.
Canva

#6. Model makers, wood

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

A chef prepares a dish to serve.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 

Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

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