The worst job in the world
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Being an actuary, calculating statistics to determine probability and risk, is the best job to have in 2010, while working on an oil rig as a roustabout is the worst.
An actuary earns about $US85,000 ($NZ120,500) a year and has few physical demands, little stress, a good work environment and a positive outlook for employment and income growth, said CareerCast.com, a job search site that analyzed 200 jobs in North America.
The second-best job is software engineer, followed by computer systems analyst, biologist and historian, said CareerCast.com, which rated jobs in terms of stress, working environment, physical demands, income and hiring outlook.
Being a roustabout was rated the worst, followed by lumberjack, ironworker, dairy farmer and welder, it said.
A roustabout is a dangerous job that typically pays about $US31,000 a year, with high unemployment and a negative outlook for growth, the study said.
Switching to many of the best jobs would mean returning to school, said Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com's 2010 Jobs Rated Report. This is its 12th annual study.
The worst jobs are "fairly miserable," Lee said. They tend to require working outdoors regardless of the weather, have elements of physical danger and do not pay very well, he said.
"On top of that, the job opportunities are not very good so if you really want one of these jobs, you may even have difficulty finding one despite the fact that they're dangerous, in bad conditions and don't pay very well," he said.
Last year, actuary placed second and mathematician first, while lumberjack ranked as the worst job.
The following is a list of the 20 best jobs as well as the 20 worst jobs, with No. 1 on the second list being the worst, according to CareerCast.com, a job search site that analyzed 200 jobs in North America.
Best Jobs in 2010:
1. Actuary
2. Software engineer
3. Computer systems analyst
4. Biologist
5. Historian
6. Mathematician
7. Paralegal assistant
8. Statistician
9. Accountant
10. Dental hygienist
11. Philosopher
12. Meteorologist
13. Technical writer
14. Bank officer
15. Web developer
16. Industrial engineer
17. Financial planner
18. Aerospace engineer
19. Pharmacist
20. Medical records technician
Worst Jobs in 2010:
1. Roustabout
2. Lumberjack
3. Ironworker
4. Dairy farmer
5 Welder
6. Garbage collector
7. Taxi driver
8. Construction worker/laborer
9. Meter reader
10. Mail carrier
11. Butcher
12. Photojournalist
13. Firefighter
14. Sheet metal worker
15. Emergency medical technician
16. Stevedore
17. Reporter (newspaper)
18. Sailor
19. Machinist
20. Choreographer
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you agree with these lists? Post your comment below.
- Reuters
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He was going to be an accountant but did'nt have the personality so became an actuary.
SteveC: Way to spectacularly miss the point! They aren't the 20 least useful jobs or the 20 jobs that really we no longer need, but the 20 worst jobs to have. We also couldn't do without Garbage workers too.
I know of a worse job. Working in a fibreglass factory. The dust, the fumes... and no job security because you will be replaced by a plastic injection machine. Police officer, teacher and parking meter person will be in there too.
Well i must say the "top" jobs sound pretty boring.. Imagine having to calculate stats all day.. bleh.. Software Engineer sounds a bit like an oxymoron to me. Computer systems Analyst = IT Support (dealing with cretins) and then being an academic, if I think about the student loan one needs to rack up to become an academic and then get employment in an institution (and then produce research papers and books as part of an employment agreement) and teach students well lets just say I think whoever made the list of the top jobs a little screwed up or maybe they were very dull.. in fact it probably was an actuary.
machinist at 19 on the worst jobs list,give me a break,without machinists NONE of the other job would exist.With out machinists who makes the tools that these other jobs use ?,without machinists civilization as we know it would not,could not exist.We need alot better PR and should be paid alot more that we get.We are an important and under appreciated highly skilled career,and our knowledge/skill set needs as constant an upgrading as a doctors or lawyers.
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I have worked as a roustabout in the US before and the usual starting rate is between US$2500 and US$3700 a month, meaning between US$30,000 and US$44,400 a year, which is not as bad as it seems for working four days on four days off. Tho it is physically demanding it is enjoyed by those who choose to do it. I feel this article give the wrong imprission, but i suppose the topic is always going to be very subjective. I would rater be a Roustabout than a postman or meter-reader.