The 15 Most Miserable Jobs in America, Based Data
Think your job is the absolute worst in the U.S.? It really may be! Especially if it is on this list. Some industries and roles have earned a reputation for being downright miserable for workers and according to Business Insider and Superscholar, these jobs top the list of the most soul-sucking gigs in America. You might be shocked to see which careers made the cut. We have our fingers crossed that yours isn’t one of them! Take a look and see if your 9-to-5 deserves a spot on this not-so-glamorous list.
Nurses
Nurses have it rough, and while their pay has slightly increased, it’s not enough to deal with the angry patients, high pressures, and gross stuff they deal with on a daily basis. When you’re a nurse, you might have to deal with patients physically assaulting you if they get too aggressive.
When you’re not dealing with angry patients, you’re dealing with gross messes. It’s nurses who are most often on the line of fire when it comes to vomit, not doctors.
Cashiers
Retail workers are another category that seems to bear the brunt of angry people. However, there are different levels of retail misery. Cashiers have low pay and low satisfaction, but who can blame them? They never know whether they will be on another episode of “Karens Gone Crazy” on YouTube.
As it turns out, the floor work seems to be the worst because of client attitudes. While cashiers often deal with irate customers, the truth is that floor workers tend to deal with worse issues…like shoplifters.
Hand Packers
Working in a warehouse is never easy. Packagers, picker-packers, and other warehouse workers tend to have a hard time at work. It’s often backbreaking labor, and the pay isn’t great. Few of these workers are satisfied with their jobs, but honestly? It’s a rough situation, no matter how you look at it.
It’s repetitive and can be quite isolating. Be careful if you’re considering this career.
Freight Handlers
Freight handlers are basically picker-packers on a larger scale. They oversee international shipping, loading and unloading major containers large enough to be a house. It is a tough job by anyone’s definition; only 25.8 percent of workers in this field are content with what they do.
Because of long hours, highly repetitive work, and other similar issues, it’s hard to find someone happy with this career choice.
Furniture Sales
While this may be more slow-paced and cushy than a typical job on this list, make no mistake about it. It’s not a fun job to have. Aside from sitting around waiting for your next customer, you also have a crazy high pressure to sell, sell, sell.
It seems to create a toxic workplace. Even if it’s not as toxic as many other stores are, you’ll struggle with low wages and mind-numbing boredom.
Day Laborer
Day labor, such as landscaping, demolition, junk hauling, and similar work, is backbreaking. Along with a very high risk of injury, wages are often low, and the work environments tend to be uncomfortable. Unsurprisingly, the same study revealed that only a small fraction of people liked their jobs in this field.
The only exception was construction labor, which had a significantly higher level of enjoyment.
Roofers
While most construction jobs have a fairly good reputation for being rewarding, roofing isn’t one of the genres that keeps a smile on peoples’ faces. Climbing on rooftops, having to do serious labor, and dealing with the hot sun make this a difficult job for the pay you get.
If you’re sun-sensitive or heat-sensitive, this is a job that will literally feel like the 9th layer of Hades.
Sales Account Manager
If you heard that selling is a tough industry to be in, you’re absolutely right. The pay can be very high, and certain sales can be quite rewarding. Unfortunately, this is a deeply hit-or-miss industry. You can often struggle with high expectations and difficult customers.
Moreover, not all sales positions pay well. As a result, this industry frequently gets cited as one of the worst to work in.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians have a relatively low-paying job in the medical world, yet they are often the ones who do some of the more tedious work. They are the ones who refill prescriptions, advise people on how to take their medicines, and call doctors if something seems awry.
The work is deeply repetitive, often done alone, and there’s only so far that you can go in this industry. That bodes poorly for many people.
Teachers
It’s not a secret that teaching has become one of the least respected ventures in America. Teachers don’t just have to deal with bullying from students. They have to deal with angry parents who refuse to discipline children and administrators who basically kowtow to everyone around them.
Teachers are quitting and retiring in record numbers. It’s no wonder why.
Dispatcher
Most people who think about a job as a dispatcher don’t think of it as a high-stress position, but it is. Police dispatchers, repair dispatchers, insurance dispatchers, and cleanup dispatchers all have to deal with people in the middle of horrible situations.
They may hear people crying over the phone. In some cases, dispatchers hear the last words people say. It’s traumatic, to say the least.
Customer Service Representatives
Whether you’re an email rep or a phone rep doesn’t matter. Everyone knows that being in customer service is a rough deal. Pay is terrible, the clients are already angry when they call you, and you are expected to stay calm while they abuse you.
Yep. No wonder it’s hard to retain people in this field.
Analyst
It may surprise you that being an analyst is considered to be one of the worst jobs in the country. Analysts report being most dissatisfied with company culture and lack of resources available to them. Maybe sitting at a desk all day studying numbers gets tedious after a day or two. Analysts sure don’t seem to enjoy it.
Legal Assistant
Legal assistants are paid a fraction of what their lawyer counterparts make, even though we all know that the assistants are doing most of the work. Legal assistants report being put off by their compensation and are also not thrilled with company perks. A legal assistant works hard and does not get many benefits at the end of the day. On a scale of 1 to 10, Business Insider reported that legal assistants only rank their happiness level at 3.1. That is pretty unhappy.
Buyer
Being a buyer is ranked as one of the worst jobs in the U.S. due to high stress, limited job satisfaction and lack of credit they often receive for their hard work. Buyers often face tight deadlines, demanding vendors, and constant pressure to secure the best deals while managing budgets and inventory levels. The role can feel thankless, as success is often overshadowed by criticism for any mistakes or unforeseen issues. Add in the monotony of repetitive tasks, and it’s no wonder this job doesn’t top the “dream career” list!
This article was inspired by Superscholar’s study and Business Insider.
