15 most stressful & lowest-paying jobs in the U.S.

[Danny_Ocean]

15 Most Stressful, Lowest-paying Jobs in the U.S.
October 30, 2009


Fifteen of the most stressful, lowest-paying jobs in the United States (not in any particular order), according to a Payscale.com survey published on CNNMoney.com:

1. Social worker

2. Special events coordinator

3. Probation/parole officer

4. News reporter

5. Music ministry director

6. Membership director

7. Fundraiser

8. Commercial photographer

9. Assisted living director

10. Minister

11. Marriage/family therapist

12. Curator

13. Substance abuse counselor

14. Film/television producer

15. High school teacher


Film/television producer is low paying?

[Rick Lee]

I know folks in several of those jobs who do very well.

[nostatic]

Depends. If they are averaging salaries then I'd believe it. There are commercial photogs who make very good money. But most struggle and have to seriously hustle. Same with tv/film producers.

[Danny_Ocean]

I would have expected to see fast-food worker, septic pumper, etc. I can think of a dozen more stressful and low-paying jobs than these (e.g. forum moderator).

[Rick Lee]

I don't think averaging salaries is at all representative of an industry. Most actors probably make less than $20k per year from acting. Throw in the salaries of the .001% who make it big, and it's not even bordering on reality.

Does fundraiser mean someone in a boiler room, dialing for dollars or consultant with a serious rolodex and a direct mail operation who gets 5% of whatever they raise? One can make $10 per hr. and the other can make $1 million per year.

[LakeCleElum]

Community activist - pole vault to POTUS

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

I would have expected to see fast-food worker, septic pumper, etc.

I don't know, Danny. Neither one of those really passes muster for "stressful."

"Sucky", yes.

[Danny_Ocean]

And "Curator" is stressful? Keeping dinosaur bones dusted off doesn't sound that hectic...

[emcon5]

WTF is a "Music ministry director"?

[Gogar]

It's the person who organizes all the music at your local church for every service all week long. If you have a fancier church with a band or something, they organize all those people, etc. At the place I work it's a 80 hour/week job.

[Chocaholic]

Try managing 20 premadonna sales people in the Healthcare industry these days. You want stressful?

[Zef]

At least they have a job...

[s_morrison57]

how about crack whore with AIDS living on the street, that has to have some stress involved, unless they stayed at the Holiday Inn the night before

[TGTIW]

I'd agree with Rick, the majority of TV producers aren't raking it in, I know I'm not. You only ever hear about the .1% that do.

[widgeon13]

Where's Little league Baseball Coach?

[VINMAN]

HS teacher low paid??? Not around here! Some make close to 6 figures.

[legion]

My sister wants to be a social worker. She is currently a waitress at a high-end Chicago restaurant. I don't think she understands that she will see a 50% pay cut with a doubling of her hours when she makes the move.

[widgeon13]

I'm betting that social worker is not only stressful but actually dangerous at times!

[Christien]

We use a diaper service for our 11-month old. I think the poor sap who opens all those bags at the depot has just about the worst job in the world, and I don't image it pays too well! Sometimes I want to put a cookie or a beer in there for him, but somehow I don't think it'd be consumable by the time he received it

Working in a kitchen is pretty stressful and doesn't pay much to lower end employees. Usually have to take alot of $hit from the chef. That's usually me.