Worst Jobs 2010: CareerCast's Rankings (PHOTOS, POLL)

In 2010, even the worst jobs may seem attractive.

With the unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent and pundits harping about "the great ambiguity" in economic indicators, the positions in this list of the worst jobs in the U.S. don't seem that dreadful.

The job site CareerCast has undertaken a rather rigorous methodology for determining just what makes a truly bad job. They gave equal weight to work environment, income, hiring outlook, physical demands and stress. Their stress rating has over 21 factors, including heavy lifting and -- ugh -- risk of death.

The latter may explain this year's worst job, which -- mini-spoiler alert -- involves working with hazardous fossil fuels. Read more about their methodology here.

Which job is the absolute worst? Check out our photos below and vote for your (least) favorite.

#10 Mail Carrier, Average Salary: $50,041

Due to a very poor hiring outlook, its physical demands, and its moderately high levels of stress, the job of mail carrier was rated tenth-worst in the CareerCast.com survey.

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Comments

[drxcreatures]

12:35 AM on 02/18/2010

How about being a home health nurse? I make $12,000 a year. Can you beat that?

[fanifesu]

10:12 PM on 01/08/2010

What about truck drivers?

[bothpartiesareworthless]

08:33 PM on 01/08/2010

My only comment is about the roustabout jobs in the offshore oil industry. I agree with most of what it says. It is dangerous work in all weather conditions, but it is getting safer with technology and safety improvements. But that being said it is the most jr of entry level jobs out on the oil rigs. The salary is more like 40k a year + benefits and thats only working six months out of the year. Usually they work a 14 days on and 14 days off schedule. And if they are good at what they do they can move up quickly to other jobs that pay more. If you can deal with working in most weather conditions but only working 2 weeks a month then it is not as bad as they make it sound.

[No2bailouts]

11:01 AM on 01/08/2010

Gee another 80,0000 jobs lost
i'll love to see how the bankster neocons on the Obammi cabinet try to spin this positive
hat tip to http://iamned-site.blogspot.com

We're all getting tired of this 'improving' BS. More jobloss is not improvement.

[Tazru]

04:33 PM on 01/08/2010

SPAMMER -- Blog P!mp

Please Report this Profile, flagging does not help.

[Jerome Vorus]

10:25 AM on 01/08/2010

Some of the jobs and salary are incorrect. My father is a Iron Worker and is paid 55.00hrs. That is totally worng

[drymartini2]

03:46 PM on 01/07/2010

Not everyone is meant to be a doctor/stockbroker/scientist/engineer/lawyer.

If everyone wanted to be one of these who would mow your lawn, deliver your pizza, fix your toilet, construct your house?

all jobs should be respected...

[BudgieMan]

07:40 AM on 01/07/2010

I think the worst job is a substitute teacher. I've been one for three years and I have had some pretty bad days. But I have had very good days. Thankfully, the good outweighs the bad.

[KIVPossum]

05:57 AM on 01/07/2010

Don't know who came up with that list, but it's pretty crappy. A lot of people work jobs that are just as hard for a lot less money.

[anyoneoutthere]

01:07 AM on 01/07/2010

All these jobs are more useful and more productive than financial analyst or market consultant, or investment consultant etc. etc.

[drymartini2]

03:47 PM on 01/07/2010

Not everyone is meant to be a financial analyst, market consultant and investment consultant. If everyone tried to be one, who would do the other jobs?

I am glad you find the jobs in the list to be more productive. more power to you.

[ghee99]

11:39 PM on 01/06/2010

i would also ad for this year "mayor of NYC"

it costs you 100 million to get the job

it only pays $1 a year

you spend all your time meddling in other peoples lives, and trying to be their nanny

unlike garbage collectors or lumberjacks, you provide no USEFUL service

and you are strongly disliked

[Kopie]

10:20 PM on 01/06/2010

Let's see here. The one government job in this list is nearly $20K/yr above the others on average. Yet they still whine. Not surprised...

[Peace1650]

09:40 PM on 01/06/2010

Jobs are hard to come by today, even in fast food restaurants and Walmarts. My job is to help my students with disabilities get employment and the jobs that my students typically did are now being filled by out of work adults. The amount of people with disabilities that are unemployed is awful.

[Jtt]

09:33 PM on 01/06/2010

The Lumberjack is effen HOT - do you guys have more pics of him?

[brooklyncitizen]

10:34 PM on 01/06/2010

LOL

[ghee99]

11:39 PM on 01/06/2010

ew

[zitlight73]

09:24 PM on 01/06/2010

How about looking in people's underwear at airports? I've done most of these jobs listed, checking skid marks for explosive residue would be a lot worse.

[No2bailouts]

09:03 PM on 01/06/2010

hmmm good site: http://iamned-site.blogspot.com/