The 10 Worst Jobs in America 2011: Careercast.com (PHOTOS)

Though it's certainly not fair, some of the most physically challenging (and dangerous) jobs pay the worst salaries. At least that's what Careercast.com's list of the worst jobs for 2011 reports.

The list reflects the parts of the economy hardest hit by the recession. In other words, it wasn't a good time to go into construction last year and it's even worse this year.

While the list for the 10 best jobs of 2011 suggests the tech industry has, at least to some degree, regained much of its luster after the Dot Com bubble burst, the housing industry certainly isn't following suit.

Which jobs fall to the bottom? Check them out below:

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#10 Construction Worker, Average Salary $29,211

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Tenth worst job in CareerCast.com's rankings, construction worker moved up two spots from last year's report.

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Tenth worst job in CareerCast.com's rankings, construction worker moved up two spots from last year's report.

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Not That Bad I Would Never

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Worst Jobs 2011

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Worst Jobs 2011

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Comments

[Doan Tran]

05:08 AM on 01/28/2011

Some of these jobs are dangerous, thus, they need to get paid more! Very respectable jobs and hard, they deserve to be paid more.

[pinkpoodle79]

03:25 PM on 01/21/2011

Huh? What about slaughterhouse worker or migrant farmer? I would have preferred any of the above jobs over my college job cleaning the dormitory (lots of bodily fluids and trash) for $7 per hour.

[Iwpach]

03:33 PM on 01/13/2011

It's never good when roofers fall. =O

[Sawyer50 Name]

09:56 AM on 01/13/2011

I think the writer of this article needs a new job. They are lying about most of the facts. What's their plan? Do they want to give these jobs to the Mexicans?

[loki]

12:24 PM on 01/12/2011

I know people who do just about all those jobs, and with the exception of taxi driver, they mostly all love their jobs. I think it depends a lot on the person. A person who likes to work hard, sweat, and not afraid of breaking a nail. Not for everyone, but for those who can and like to do this, they usually like their jobs.
Personally for me, if I were to pick the bottom job, it would either be drywaller, who most I know have major back problems by their mid 30's. The other bad job I can think of right now is a honey wagon operator.

[halfpricefaustian]

11:44 AM on 01/12/2011

I wouldn't recommend software engineer to anyone. I started out with with a degree in CS and at first it was great. I could get a well paying job anywhere in the country. I specialized in operating system development, and to get jobs in that field now you have to go to Austin, San Jose, or Seattle, not much else. I was laid off in 2009 after spending a year training the people in India who took over my work. Once computers became commoditized, so did programming. There's just not much demand for UNIX internals anymore.

[loki]

12:27 PM on 01/12/2011

I know someone who works for a major tech company here in the Midwest. They recently had an opening for a low level Help Desk operator. He told me they were getting hundreds of applications from people with years of experience and masters degrees in programming and software engineering. For a $11 an hour job!
Yeah, it sounds like a great job, software engineer. But only if your willing to starve.

[KarasudaJay]

11:21 AM on 01/12/2011

I can see painting, roofing, and construction labor on this list as they are generally not high skill work. Welder and steel worker? That's confusing, good skilled trade jobs are a bad thing now. Paramedic? Probably stressful, but I would put it much higher than working retail. How in the world was this list compiled?

[loki]

12:29 PM on 01/12/2011

I dont think any of these jobs are really low skill jobs. Could you build a house? Its more than sawing a board and banging a nail. There is a lot of skill in building with quality. Unskilled labor shows in construction, big time.

[LonosCurse]

11:02 AM on 01/12/2011

Anybody ask Mike Rowe?

[loki]

12:29 PM on 01/12/2011

good one. He would be the expert if there ever was one!

[FiredUpRTG]

09:24 AM on 01/12/2011

So much respect for those jobs, so needed, so dangerous, not a thank you in sight.

[hglu]

08:07 AM on 01/12/2011

Are these some of the union jobs that the republicans say are bankrupting the country?

[Sgt Heart]

08:05 AM on 01/12/2011

Mail carrier.

[KriTiKiT]

07:42 AM on 01/12/2011

overworked and underpaid.

[thomashusted]

06:04 AM on 01/12/2011

Worst jobs? Some of them are what made America great in the past with their blood, sweat, and tears now they are the worst jobs? What are the great jobs being a Bankster who makes millions at the expensive of America and American people. I guess real values are way off now a days.no wonder America is falling apart!

[FiredUpRTG]

09:25 AM on 01/12/2011

Worst job: overworked, underpaid, dangerous, dirty, not much opportunity for promotion.

[Betaraybill]

04:07 AM on 01/12/2011

Construction workers are all illegal immigrants from mexico which includes painters, and roofers,.. so this is bogus on all accounts.
Meter readers, welders, and emergency techs,... may possibly, still be American paying taxpayers. (this small majority pays for all the taxes)
And all the taxidrivers are Armenian or some pirate from Somalia.
Sorry for telling the truth to you all.

[tjconkster]

07:56 AM on 01/12/2011

What planet are you living on?

[LonosCurse]

11:00 AM on 01/12/2011

Is one dating your sister?

[osofar]

01:26 AM on 01/12/2011

Roustabout, not roundabout. Please learn the simple art of checking your work. These lists seem to be done by someone with no experience working.

[LonosCurse]

11:01 AM on 01/12/2011

HP editor should be on this list.