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