Top Five Worst Jobs

November 17, 2023

If we could create an ideal world, we probably wouldn't need jobs to survive. However, in today's society, we must earn our way in the world. Jobs and careers can range in many areas and have different characteristics, such as benefits, shift length, salary, convenience, physical endurance, mental endurance, cleanliness, and so much more. So, what are the top five worst jobs of all time—did you luck out in your industry, or is it time for a career change?

5. Service Industry Workers (Bartenders, Servers, Hostess, Cooks, Dishwashers)

Long hours on your feet, demanding customers, and multitasking with a smile—service industry workers must be skilled in many areas to be successful in the field. Along with a chaotic work environment, many of the service industry rely on tips to earn their living and work without benefits such as healthcare and paid time off. Working for tips can mean significant gains, but it can also depend on the state of the economy and the country's average amount of expendable income. With an average wage of about $24,000 per year, these workers put in a lot of physical effort and heart for menial salaries. Also, is the customer always right?

4. Laborers (Construction workers, Brickmasons, Roofers, and Welders)

Some prefer working outside or in an unconventional environment; however, this is far more dangerous than a standard office. Laborers battle extreme weather, traffic, and other hazardous materials and machinery to make their living. Even though the duties and tasks involved in these positions require knowledge and know-how, laborers' work is often categorized as unskilled labor because it does not require a specific high education level. Due to this, their median wage is anywhere between $40,000-$50,000 a year. The average salary is relatively low for the number of physical risks laborers take to perform their jobs.

3. Sanitation Workers (Janitors, Hospitality cleaners, and Pest Control)

A few things in life are true—one of those things is that life can get dirty. Sanitation workers do the jobs that most of us could not fathom doing—even for pay. Most of the time, we move around and enter already cleaned spaces. We rarely stop to think about who is behind the scenes making us feel safe in clean, accessible environments. With an average yearly salary of $25,000-$35,000 a year, the payoff is not great for the amount of exposure to dirty and potentially hazardous materials and situations. What is the grossest thing you would clean for a living?

2. Drivers (Truck drivers, Delivery drivers, Bus drivers, Taxi drivers)

Many of us are adventure seekers and love a good road trip; however, there is a considerable difference between driving long hours for fun and for a living. Inclement weather, unsafe roads, commuters, and other dangerous factors make this living far from safe. As some people prefer not to have contact with coworkers or customers, driving a delivery truck can also be a very isolating and lonely work environment day in and day out. The demand to remain seated and drive for long hours can also wreak havoc on your body. These jobs also offer modest wages ranging from $25,000-$40,000 a year.

1. Dentist

Although a high-paying career with an average salary of $130,000-$230,000 a year, the dentist must deal with one of the most germ-ridden things on the planet—the human mouth. Dentists can be under extreme stress when they spend their day treating infections, diseases, and other undesirable conditions. According to major polls, dentists have among the highest suicide rates in any profession in the United States. Required to endure years of expensive and difficult training and high education, all of the stress before and after becoming a dentist can be too much.

There you have it--which careers are you steering away from in your dream job search?