• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

10 Thankless Low-Paying Jobs That People Often Accept Anyway

By Len Penzo

Almost everybody thinks they’re underpaid for what they do. But in reality, there are a handful of select jobs where this claim is especially true.

Many years ago, I compiled a list of the 10 most underpaid jobs. The provocative list was a collection of occupations that I felt were grossly under-compensated considering their overall contribution to society; jobs like trauma scene clean-up workers and electrical linemen.

And I still continue to get the occasional nastygram from disgruntled people wondering how I could ever leave their job off my list.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled another list of jobs that aren’t usually well-compensated, but in many cases people sign-up for anyway — sometimes because it’s the only job available. Don’t laugh; this may be truer than ever now that the economy has taken a decided turn for the worse.

Of course, I’m sure many of you are eagerly waiting to see if your job made it here this time. So without further ado, here are ten more underappreciated low-paying jobs, ranked by their median salary according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

10. School Bus Drivers

Median salary: $45,830
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): School bus drivers require a unique mix of incredible patience, concentration and driving skills. It can’t be easy driving a large clumsy school bus and maneuvering it into tight spaces with dozens of kids constantly screaming behind you. Considering all the responsibility that they have, school bus drivers perform their jobs admirably day-in and day-out for a relative pittance.

9. Roofers

Median salary: $45,820
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): It’s bad enough having to work high above the ground, on sloped and slippery surfaces, in all types of weather conditions, including the stifling heat of summer. Even worse, roofing is one of the most dangerous professions in America, with an annual fatality rate ten times greater than the overall workforce. For this, they get little more than $23 per hour.

8. Couriers

Median salary: $31,640
Do I think they’re underpaid? No.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): My mother-in-law was a courier and I saw how it can be a demanding job — especially if you’re responsible for delivering time-sensitive material in large metropolitan areas with heavy traffic. And while professional drivers have the ninth most dangerous job in America, it’s hard to argue they’re underpaid when there are so many people willing and able to do the job. (Sorry, Mom.)

7. Deep Sea Fishermen

Median salary: $31,340
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Anybody who has watched the Deadliest Catch on Discovery knows how dangerous deep sea fishing is. In fact, it is by far the most dangerous job in America; 60 times deadlier compared to the overall workforce. Among other perils, fishermen risk being dragged overboard after being snagged by hooks, or swept out to sea in bad weather. Think about that next time you pop some fish sticks in the oven.

6. Slaughterers and Meat Packers

Median salary: $30,920
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): If it weren’t for these guys doing all the dirty work, I’d probably be a vegetarian. I suspect a large number of you reading this would be too.

5. Telemarketers

Median salary: $29,770
Do I think they’re underpaid? No.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Telemarketers; you either hate ’em … or don’t own a phone. In fact, I have yet to meet a person who has complained about not getting enough calls from telemarketers. I imagine most telemarketers get an earful several times a day from irate people who don’t appreciate being cold-called at dinner time — or any other time for that matter. Why anyone would be a telemarketer is a mystery to me. It certainly ain’t for the pay.

4. Ambulance Drivers

Median salary: $29,600
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Talk about a high-pressure job; ambulance drivers are almost always working in life-or-death situations. Many are trained as emergency medical technicians. The job is both physically and emotionally demanding, and usually requires an irregular work schedule. For $15 per hour it hardly seems worth it.

3. Nursing Aids, Orderlies and Attendants

Median salary: $27,860
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Being a nurse’s assistant often requires a cast-iron stomach and entails very long hours with sometimes-grumpy and uncooperative patients. Job duties include changing bedpans, inserting catheters, giving sponge baths, and providing other general care and comfort to the sick and injured on a daily basis. It’s one of the most under-appreciated jobs in the world.

2. Maids and Housekeepers

Median salary: $26,810
Do I think they’re underpaid? No.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Most maid and housekeeper jobs are neither glamorous or lucrative. And because there is no shortage of people who are both willing and able to do the job, not unlike pizza delivery drivers, their wages will always remain woefully depressed.

1. Childcare Workers

Median salary: $25,510
Do I think they’re underpaid? Yes.
Why they’re underpaid (or not): Despite the importance and responsibility tied to the job, a Wall Street Journal survey found that child care workers ranked 186th out of 200 professions based on income, working environment, stress, physical demands and job outlook. In fact, the median salary of the average childcare worker equates to an hourly rate that’s less than what many babysitters get paid.

So that’s it, folks. And if I once again left your job off the list, don’t despair because, believe it or not … the grass usually isn’t greener on the other side of the fence.

Photo Credit: Bill Ward

46 Comments May 4, 2020

Comments

  1. 1

    Money Infant says

    Interesting list in that 20% of the list are healthcare workers and another 20% are involved in the welfare of our children. If you include maids and housekeepers (who often double as nannies) then that’s 30%. Strange priorities we have don’t you think? And it just occurred to me that 30% of the list is comprised of occupations that provide for basic needs, food and shelter.

    Reply
    • 2

      Len Penzo says

      The thing is, like it or not, those salaries are determined by good old supply and demand. As long as there are more people willing and able to do the job than there are available positions, then the earning power will remain depressed.

      I am trying to stress this point to my kids — unskilled positions usually pay less than jobs requiring unique abilities and skill sets. People who fail to develop those unique skills are then forced to compete for jobs that are more physically and/or emotionally demanding AND pay less.

      That’s just the way it is.

      Reply
      • 3

        Duke says

        Thanks for sharing. I would also ask your kids teachers their thoughts or ask your kids to ask other people. As a teacher we start the year off with. Why are you here! The bottom line is to contribute to your community and fund your life style. I go to school in a big box so I can work in a big box or I can learn from home and work from home. Those jobs you posted are what I call gateway jobs because they lead to management positions that can pay 100,000.00 or more. They also are great part time jobs. Lifestyle is key. I would have kids read early retirement extreme and MMM. These should be manadatory reading! And to top it off for critical thinking your black coffee blog to help form and shape their opinion or position on valid currency like it or not. The toughest lesson with teaching money if they are not in tears at some point they are not learning. Funding a lifestyle is just as painful as maintaining a relationship.
        One great movie. Clint Eastwood million dollar baby. The scene where she gives here mom the house! Pause and get your kids response to that! Their answers will let you know where they are with money.

        Preachin to the choir I hope.
        : )

        Reply
        • 4

          Len Penzo says

          Great comments, Duke. And you are preachin’ to the choir.

          The trouble is, a lot of people feel those gateway jobs are somehow “beneath them” — I have no sympathy or patience for people like that.

          When I was growing up, I remember my Dad working three jobs so my mom could stay home with me and my sister; two of his jobs were gateway jobs (janitor and working as a liquor store clerk).

  2. 5

    DemosCat says

    To this list you can add regional airline pilots as seriously underpaid.

    I know, we all think airline pilots all earn $100k or more, and that is still true for a few senior pilots working for the major airlines. They are a vanishing breed.

    Junior regional airline pilots earn as little as $20-24k a year, less than a school bus driver. And yet the responsibilities are so much greater, with training, licensing, etc.

    http://thetruthabouttheprofession.weebly.com/professional-pilot-salaries.html

    Reply
    • 6

      Len Penzo says

      Yes, of course! Dang. Why didn’t I remember regional pilots, DC?

      In fact, I remember reading one of the more recent commuter plane crash cockpit transcripts that included the two regional pilots complaining about their low pay (and I think they mentioned their lousy schedules too).

      I probably should have included them here, although to be fair, most of those pilots will eventually move on up to higher-paying jobs with bigger carriers. I don’t think most of the other jobs I listed here have similar pay advancement opportunities.

      Reply
  3. 7

    nansuelee says

    Great Post. I went back and read your previous list and love that Lineman are included. My husband has been a lineman for 28 years, of this I could not be more proud! Living in Iowa, if the power is out he has worked in rain, snow, sleet and what ever else nature sends our way. We are fortunate that when there has been large outages due to storms folks are grateful to have the power restored and often offer coffee and treats to crews that are near their homes. So, the gratitude is there for us. And by the way, although he has not done helicopter work, given the opportunity he would do it in a heartbeat. If he does, I hope I do not know about it until it is over! Heights do not bother him in the least, I on the other hand love to have my feet on the ground.

    Reply
    • 8

      Len Penzo says

      Yeah, linemen are incredibly under-appreciated. Especially the guys stringing high voltage lines between those massive towers; they are really something else!

      Reply
  4. 9

    John | Married (with Debt) says

    I have a lot of respect for people that work the tough, thankless jobs. We are doing a great disservice by killing every job that is blue collar in nature.

    Reply
    • 10

      Len Penzo says

      I do too, John.

      Unfortunately, globalization is a double-edged sword. It’s keeping our cost of living relatively under control, but it’s at the expense of those who hold jobs that are unskilled or otherwise have low barriers to entry.

      Reply
      • 11

        DemosCat says

        It’s not just low-skill jobs that are being lost. Plenty of high-paying professional jobs are being lost to off-shoring.

        If a job involves data manipulation, it can be off-shored. Examples of lost jobs include application developers, system administrators, database administrators, medical lab technicians who review/interpret x-rays and lab results. Even college professors are not safe as more teaching is done on-line. As telepresence technology improves, even doctors will eventually find themselves competing globally.

        And not just to India. With salaries now rapidly rising in India, US companies are already making plans for the next low-wage areas to exploit: former Soviet Bloc countries and South America.

        What we are witnessing is a global flattening of salaries. It won’t stop until salaries are nearly the same regardless of location. Great for most of the world, but absolutely devastating in the US.

        Reply
    • 12

      DJ @ Money Goody says

      It’s all about cutting costs. Ultimately anything that can automated will be. It kind of sucks but it’s the way of the world.

      Reply
  5. 13

    The Griper says

    the question that first must be asked is; are you using a valid criteria for the determining of the worth or value of the job?

    from an economic view how does the criteria you are using meet the criteria of the basic law of “supply and demand”?

    from a political view would this be seen as a criteria of the left or of the right?

    from a moral or religious view what principle or doctrine would that criteria be abiding by?

    Reply
    • 14

      Len Penzo says

      My opinion expressed in the article regarding whether the jobs are underpaid or not are purely emotionally-based (which would indicate they are coming from the left side of the political spectrum).

      That being said, the engineer in me helps keep my emotional side in check. So, as I told Steve above, I realize that each of the jobs listed above are logically earning exactly what they are entitled to — that is, the marketplace has basically determined the wage scale for each job.

      Naturally, I would never advocate artificially increasing those wage scales. That would interfere with the free market and only cause other issues elsewhere.

      Does that make sense?

      Reply
  6. 15

    Krantcents says

    Many people would include my profession (teacher), I am not complaining. I accepted these wages and I do like the job.

    Reply
    • 16

      Len Penzo says

      I will say this: Over the past two years, I’ve gotten more comments from teachers saying that they should be included on my underpaid list than those who work in any other profession — bar none.

      Reply
  7. 17

    Dr Dean says

    I am looking forward to reading your feedback here.

    Reply
    • 18

      Len Penzo says

      I’m sure you do! LOL

      So … Did I at least do a fair job of getting through the mine field I set for myself, Dr. Dean?

      Reply
      • 19

        Duke says

        I am now wondering what the top 10 Finance minefields are. Being army engineer. To me this post is like an IED. I think you guys need to set up you blogs to Siri or whatever AI. Then you dont have to do anything. you have a system that feeds on itself while producing cashflow. It will repurpose content and answer questions. Hopefully I can get my system set up so I dont have to reply on my own. This is what I am doing with my on line classroom. Hook up siri to my google hangout text message and kids think they are talking to me! The star trek geeks won! Big screen, talking to computers, now travel to trailer park or big city and you feel like you are on a different planet!

        Reply
        • 20

          Len Penzo says

          Well … the piece was deliberately meant to be provocative. Provocative posts generate the best conversations; if we’re lucky, those conversations end up being better than the original article.

  8. 21

    Darwin's Money says

    To the contrary, what is the education level (upfront investment on behalf of the employee) required to do most of the jobs? Some have no requirements at all, some are Highschool or GED. So, while they may be “noble” professions, there is an excess of labor available per given opening, so why should they pay more?

    Reply
    • 22

      Len Penzo says

      You’re preaching to the choir, Darwin!

      Reply
  9. 23

    Paula @ Afford Anything says

    You forgot newspaper reporter. 🙂

    Reply
    • 24

      Len Penzo says

      They are paid pretty poorly, Paula. But with the median wage at $34,530, they’re paid more than roofers — and I think their job is less dangerous too. Well, unless you blow a deadline. 😉

      Reply
      • 25

        Duke says

        Whats a newspaper? I still think we missed the boat! Taping bannana to the wall was the best. You just have to do art every 5 years? Paula I think you let Len suck you into this one. Penzonia is like being in an escape room.

        Reply
  10. 26

    Aloysa @ My Broken Coin says

    What about school junitors? Actually any junitor? I think they are grossly underpaid for what they have to deal with!

    Reply
    • 27

      Len Penzo says

      I had janitors ranked #10 in my previous survey, Aloysa.

      Reply
  11. 28

    Gina says

    Having lived in Dutch Harbor Alaska and have friends still living there..you are waaayy off on salary for the crab boat fisherman. They can make 25000.00 in a season! Season being three months give or take.. One guy I knew worked one crab season then headed to Florida to work the other 9 months, guy made 100,000 a year.
    So they make more than you think! Depends on many factors of course, the catch, the captain, seniority on the boat.
    I loved to be at the grocery store when they would buy three months of groceries at at time!$ 3-5000.00 grocery bills were not uncommon!!

    Reply
    • 29

      Len Penzo says

      Oh, I believe it, Gina! Of course, remember that the salary numbers I used are not the average salary; it’s the median, which simply means the value is the mid-point earnings for all deep sea fishermen. So half of all deep sea fisherman make more than the median shown and the other half make less. 🙂

      Reply
  12. 30

    Doable Finance says

    They may be thankless jobs but the service they do in the community is great.

    Did you notice why School Bus Drivers drive so fast?

    Reply
  13. 31

    Jimmy says

    How about we raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour! Not only will that solve the problem of most of our country just barely scraping by but it will get a lot of folks off of unemployment and government assistance. I know a lot of people that it just does not make sense to work for the extremely low minimum wage when they can make more sitting around doing nothing receiving assistance…the same goes for unemployment. And it will also push skilled wages up and it might be a way to keep Mr/Mrs 1% from getting all of the profits of the hard workers of our society…It will have it’s flaws but what system doesn’t?

    Reply
    • 32

      Len Penzo says

      Now that was a very effective application of sarcasm, Jimmy! Well done, sir.

      (Er, at least I think that was sarcasm; wasn’t it?)

      Reply
      • 33

        Duke says

        No think that was real. I think sarcasm is saying. Lets just pay people not to work and see what happens. Use a virus to drive down gas prices to get Elon Musk to say Tesla stock is priced to high. Does Mel Brooks gets the last world? Its a Mad World, Well off to the honey do list great visit to Penzonia today. Think I stepped on few mines and left a few. : ) Who needs to watch the tonight show for a laugh when this post is available? Len you keep this up they will want you on 60 min to take Andy Roonies place.

        Reply
        • 34

          Len Penzo says

          Thanks, Duke. Wait … You mean they haven’t replaced Andy Rooney yet? Is he still giving commentary from the grave?

  14. 35

    Angela says

    Falling into the nurse et al category, I believe, when my mother was in long term care for Alzheimers’, I was astonished at the hard work and dedication of the Personal Support Workers (PSWs). The floor my mother was on and the one above it were security floors, all dementia. The higher floors were a mix, and then there was palliative care. There was sometimes as few as one nurse on duty on a floor, but several more PSWs. When my Mom passed away, I was left with a deep respect for these (mostly) women.

    Reply
  15. 36

    eemusings says

    Journalists (and not just print but radio etc) are definitely underpaid but it’s a job many are lining up to do. At least till they get disillusioned and mive into marketing/comms/pr.

    Emergency service workers would probably top my list of underpaid, underappreciated professions.

    Reply
  16. 37

    Monevator says

    You missed out ‘financial blog writer’.

    Still, we can’t really go toe-to-toe with the fisherman in the deadliness bragging stakes, unless you count having a scrap with Google. 😉

    Reply
    • 38

      Len Penzo says

      Yeah, it doesn’t pay well, Investor. But it’s still a good ways from the bottom!

      Reply
  17. 39

    Belinda . R says

    I would add substitute teacher to the list. Pay is $45 a day where I live. If I work every school day of the month I can gross/earn $900 that month

    Reply
    • 40

      DJ @ Money Goody says

      Wow, I didn’t realize how bad it was. You always hear jokes about how underpaid substitute teachers are but I always thought they were exaggerating!

      Reply
  18. 41

    Jason says

    As a bus school bus driver, I wish I made $27,000, but in reality, most of us are lucky to make $8 – 12,000 a year here in North Eastern Washington State. Durham Doesn’t Pay.

    Reply
  19. 42

    DJ @ Money Goody says

    It’s crazy how people in charge of children and people who literally can’t care for themselves are so underpaid. And it’s not like they “can’t” make more, it’s typically because of how budgets are allocated. If I had a kid, I’d sure as heck what their bus driver to not be stressed over how they’re going to pay their bills while they’re driving a bus full of screaming annoying kids.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 4 Things Everyone Needs to Know Before Pitching a Client - Len Penzo dot Com says:
    October 28, 2017 at 8:22 am

    […] doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in; if it comes down to working with clients, making sales, or even getting everyone […]

    Reply
  2. Will Any Insurance Company Risk Covering the ‘Deadliest Catch’ Crew? – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    May 16, 2018 at 4:15 am

    […] The Bering Sea, home of the Deadliest Catch as well as some of the fiercest waters on the planet, is a cruel mistress. Howling squalls buffet the ship with frigid winds. A constantly slick deck ravaged by the pounding surf is a relentless threat to claim the balance and life of a fisherman. Commercial fishing equipment weighing tons sweeps precariously just feet or inches from the crew and sometimes even strikes an unfortunate crew member. It’s a thankless job. […]

    Reply
  3. Black Coffee: A Thief In the Night – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    May 23, 2020 at 2:16 am

    […] 10 Thankless Low-Paying Jobs That People Often Accept Anyway […]

    Reply
  4. Understanding Life Insurance: Does a Superhero Like Batman Need It? – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    June 20, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    […] example, deep sea fishermen, loggers, and pilots, are the three jobs with the highest fatality rates and are, therefore, the most expensive to insure. If Batman ever decides to have kids, well, […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Polls

What do you think is the smartest career decision for young people today?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Black Coffee: More Pie In the Sky
  • How to Get Fast Approval on Installment Loans
  • Should You Consider A Pre-Settlement Loan In a Personal Injury Case?
  • What Barfing Out of a Bus Window Teaches Us About Managing Money
  • 7 High-Paying Tech Jobs That Desperately Need Women
  • 9 Important Strategies to Help You Manage Financial Risks
  • Black Coffee: Parasites and Leeches
  • Responsible Casino and Gambling Tips: How to Stay Within Your Budget
  • Starting a Side Hustle? Ask Yourself These Questions
  • Grandfather Says: A Chicken Run for the Henhouse

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 30,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  2. 2. The 10 Worst Things I Ever Bought
  3. 3. 7 Perplexing Money Questions Without a Good Answer
  4. 4. My Cola Taste Test: Is Coke Really Better Than Pepsi?
  5. 5. The Real Secret to Becoming Rich as a King
  6. 6. Planning a Wedding? Here Are 9 Ways to Ensure You’ll Pay Too Much
  7. 7. Economic Collapse 101: How to Prepare for Water Supply Disruptions
  8. 8. A Simple Test to Know If It’s Better to Rent or Buy a Home
  9. 9. The Big Secret the Banking Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2021 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2021