Is your job really that bad?
Each year, CareerCast.com releases a report that ranks approximately 200 jobs on four criteria: environment, income, outlook and stress. This year's 28th annual report shows that three of the 10 worst jobs for 2016 are actually jobs that were once considered glamorous and are all media related.
1. Newspaper reporter
The rise of digital media, or rather, the availability of news online 24/7 has led to a sharp decrease in print publications. In turn, there are fewer newspaper jobs and a loss of ad revenue has meant a decline in pay for newspaper reporters as well. With an annual median salary of $37,200 and a growth outlook of -9 percent, the job of newspaper reporter is at the top of the 2016 list for worst jobs.
2. Logger
Interestingly, the rise of digital media has not only affected media jobs, but it's also had a negative impact on employment in the logging industry. Since there is little need for paper in today's digital world, there is also a lesser need for loggers to cut down the trees which supply it. That, coupled with an annual median salary of $35,160 and a growth outlook of -4 percent, along with the job's high stress factor and a dangerous work environment, put logger jobs as the second worst job of 2016.
3. Broadcaster
Another media job that seems almost on the verge of extinction, the broadcaster job, is the second media job to make the 2016 list. CareerCast blames the job's poor growth outlook of -9 percent and its decreasing annual median salary of $37,200 on shrinking opportunities in the industry along with the higher stress of working in the public eye.
4. Disc jockey
Once a coveted music industry job, streaming services, podcasts, and playlist programs have all worked to make this type of media job almost obsolete for small market and entry-level positions. Although the disc jockey's annual median salary of $29,010 makes this job pay slightly better than the other two media positions on the list, the growth outlook is considerably worse at -11 percent.
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5. Enlisted military personnel
Although the military still actively recruits, the high stress and low pay are two of the primary factors that place enlisted military personnel as of one the worst jobs of 2016. In fact, CareerCast gives this job a stress score of 72.74, which places it as the highest-stress job listed in the Jobs Rated report. Growth outlook is N/A, but the annual median salary for enlisted military personnel is on the lower end of the pay scale at $27,936.
6. Pest control worker
Perhaps partially on the worst job list due to the environment rating, or "eww" factor, pest control workers not only have the task of dealing with creepy crawlies on a daily basis, but also handle potentially hazardous pesticides. The growth outlook for pest control workers is -1 percent and the annual median salary is $30,660.
7. Retail sales personnel
While a positive growth outlook of 7 percent may make this job seem like an odd fit for worst jobs, working in a customer service industry is certainly not without its challenges. Management issues, customer complaints, and crazy work schedules not withstanding, the primary issue with this position is its low annual median salary of just $21,670.
8. Advertising sales person
The advertising sales person may work in a variety of industries from an actual advertising industry to a position in television, radio or even on the Internet. CareerCast states that it is the declining job prospects and high stress that have placed this job on the Worst Jobs list for the first time. Growth outlook is at -3 percent although the annual median salary of $47,890 is higher than the other worst jobs of 2016.
9. Taxi driver
Despite having a positive growth outlook of 13 percent, the taxi driver makes the list of 10 worst jobs because of the stress related to this occupation, which is caused by both the position's danger level and high competition in the industry due to the use of independent contractors with companies such as Uber and Lyft, which often charge passengers much cheaper rates. Annual median salary for taxi drivers is $23,210.
10. Firefighter
The daily potential for encountering life-threatening conditions and a high stress level on the job are what place this job on the 2016 Worst Job list. For those who are up to the task, growth outlook is fair at 5 percent and the annual median salary is $45,970.
*All annual median salary and growth outlook figures based on Department of Labor statistics as of April 2016.
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