10 Unhappiest Jobs in America

[Lewis]

The 10 Unhappiest Jobs in America

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• Thinkstock - Teachers have a bliss score of 3.595/5.

If you happily get out of bed every morning for work, you're one of the lucky ones — not everyone is satisfied with their current job.

These people feel stuck for a variety of reasons, including low pay, irregular hours or the inability to move upward, says a report published by CareerBliss.

The company identified the unhappiest jobs based on more than 100,000 employee-generated reviews between February 2011 and January 2012.

The ratings are based on key factors such as work-life balance, one's relationship with their boss and co-workers, their work environment, job resources, compensation, growth opportunities, company culture, company reputation, daily tasks, and control over the work that they do daily.

Here are the top 10 jobs that make workers' lives miserable.

1. Security Officer

Average salary: $29,641
Bliss Score: 3.510/5

Why: "People might think that the work environment security guards often face, such as working late hours alone at night, would be what contributes to unhappiness," Matt Miller, the chief technology officer at CareerBliss told Smith. "However, our data shows that growth opportunities and lack of rewards in this field is what affected the overall sentiment around this type of job. Work environment scored relatively high."

Description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. The BLS projected the growth of these jobs to be 18 percent through 2020.

2. Registered Nurse

Average salary: $43,663
Bliss Score: 3.595/5

Why: "Nurses . . . have more issues with the culture of their workplaces, the people they work with and the person they work for," Golledge says.

Description: Provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions. The BLS projected the growth of these jobs to be 26 percent through 2020.

3. Teacher

Average salary: $43,663
Bliss Score: 3.595/5

Why: CareerBliss' chief executive Heidi Golledge told Smith: "CareerBliss has found through our research that teachers appear to be quite happy with their work and their co-workers. However, the rewards for their work, lack of support and lack of opportunities to be promoted counteract many of the good parts of the job."

Description: Prepare students for future schooling and working by teaching them a variety of subjects. The BLS projected the growth of grade school teaching jobs to be 17 percent through 2020.

4. Sales Engineer

Average salary: $71,283
Bliss Score: 3.636/5

Why: Smith reports that these engineers don't appreciate the "lack of growth opportunities, company's culture, compensation and support."

Description: Sell complex scientific and technological products or services to businesses. They must have extensive knowledge of the products’ parts and functions and must understand the scientific processes that make these products work. The BLS projected the growth of these jobs to be 14 percent through 2020.

5. Product Manager

Average salary: $81,865
Bliss Score: 3.648/5

Why: Smith says that these workers "voiced unhappiness with the range of growth opportunities, compensation, company culture and support."

Description: A blog describes product managers as those who "conceive the idea; run with it for many months; ... gather, [develop], test, [go] through the painful exercise of bringing that product to market, and then support it until it is made obsolete."

6. Program Manager

Average salary: $94,371
Bliss Score: 3.655/5

Why: Jacquelyn Smith at Forbes reports that "the unhappiest aspects of [this] job are a lack of growth opportunities, the culture of the company they work for and the surrounding workplace support system."

Description: Plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from early development to completion. The program managers' responsibilities are finished when the product is delivered, and they turn it over to the product managers.

7. Marketing Manager

Average salary: $64,437
Bliss Score: 3.677/5

Why: Thomas O. Davenport at TLNT.com says: "With many organizations expecting managers to act as player-coaches, both performing and overseeing work, their roles often become complex and unwieldy."

Description: Plan programs to generate interest in a product or service. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.

8. Director of Sales

Average salary: $91,821
Bliss Score: 3.677/5

Description: Set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for the organization’s sales representatives. The BLS projected the growth of these jobs to be 12 percent through 2020.

9. Marketing Director

Average salary: $68,873
Bliss Score: 3.688/5

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.

10. Maintenance Supervisor

Average salary: $52,799
Bliss Score: 3.691/5

Why: Long hours and a lot of on-call schedules.

Description: Reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.

 

[Pizzaguy]

3. Teacher

Average salary:

$43,663
Bliss Score: 3.595/5

Why: CareerBliss' chief executive Heidi Golledge told Smith: "CareerBliss has found through our research that teachers appear to be quite happy with their work and their co-workers. However, the rewards for their work, lack of support and lack of opportunities to be promoted counteract many of the good parts of the job."

I suppose the fact that they are wasting their time probably makes the job tough.

Face it: Parents these days are largely incompetent, self-centered and uncaring. They do not support the teacher, and were raised thinking life and society owes them a living, and they teach this nonsense to their kids.

The fact that most schools these days are turning out uneducated graduates HAS to wear on the teacher.

 

[Lewis]

I suppose the fact that they are wasting their time probably makes the job tough.

Face it: Parents these days are largely incompetent, self-centered and uncaring. They do not support the teacher, and were raised thinking life and society owes them a living, and they teach this nonsense to their kids.

The fact that most schools these days are turning out uneducated graduates HAS to wear on the teacher.

I agree with you

 

[joethemechanic]

It's funny, most of those people work inside in a nice comfortable safe environment. I wonder what they would do if they had to work in the heat and the cold. And in nasty environments like a guy that is abrasive blasting, or burning scrap metal with a torch.

Personally I think most of those jobs listed must be filled by a bunch of cry babies.

 

[WIP]

Oh, I don't know Joe. I have been working as an electrical designer for a industrial machinery manufacturer for about 20 years. My job is primarily a desk job. I don't mind my work but there are days....

Back in the 1980's when I was in my 20's I worked in the logging industry. I felled trees, operated skidders, and operated shears. We worked when it was 90 degrees and heat indeces approaching 100. We worked in the rain. We worked when it was -40 degrees with -90 degree wind chills. We put up with thigh deep snow, hoards of mosquitos, sandflies, deerflies, horseflies, and wood ticks.

In 1985 I was paid $5.50 per hour to operate the skidder and $6.00 per hour to operate the shear. According to the American Institute for Economic Research cost of living calculator that translates to $11.59 for skidder operator and $12.64 for shear operator in today's dollars. I had to provide my own gear including my chainsaw, fuel, bar oil, hard hat, safety glasses, etc. We got no health care benefits, no retirement package, and no vacation. Although we did get laid off every spring for a few weeks while the road weight restrictions were in effect.

I loved that job! I was never in better physical condition; strong as a bull and never sick but it just didn't pay enough income to support a family of four and I was forced to move on.

Today I also work my farm part time. If I was a few years younger and could pencil it out, I would quit my desk job in a heartbeat and go into farming full time. I love working outdoors and hard physical work doesn't scare me at all. I think I actually prefer it.

 

[ashesmi]

I suppose the fact that they are wasting their time probably makes the job tough.

Face it: Parents these days are largely incompetent, self-centered and uncaring. They do not support the teacher, and were raised thinking life and society owes them a living, and they teach this nonsense to their kids.

The fact that most schools these days are turning out uneducated graduates HAS to wear on the teacher.

Yes you are right, I know how hard it is for teachers my heart goes out to them.

 

[joethemechanic]

Oh, I don't know Joe. I have been working as an electrical designer for a industrial machinery manufacturer for about 20 years. My job is primarily a desk job. I don't mind my work but there are days....

Back in the 1980's when I was in my 20's I worked in the logging industry. I felled trees, operated skidders, and operated shears. We worked when it was 90 degrees and heat indeces approaching 100. We worked in the rain. We worked when it was -40 degrees with -90 degree wind chills. We put up with thigh deep snow, hoards of mosquitos, sandflies, deerflies, horseflies, and wood ticks.

In 1985 I was paid $5.50 per hour to operate the skidder and $6.00 per hour to operate the shear. According to the American Institute for Economic Research cost of living calculator that translates to $11.59 for skidder operator and $12.64 for shear operator in today's dollars. I had to provide my own gear including my chainsaw, fuel, bar oil, hard hat, safety glasses, etc. We got no health care benefits, no retirement package, and no vacation. Although we did get laid off every spring for a few weeks while the road weight restrictions were in effect.

I loved that job! I was never in better physical condition; strong as a bull and never sick but it just didn't pay enough income to support a family of four and I was forced to move on.

Today I also work my farm part time. If I was a few years younger and could pencil it out, I would quit my desk job in a heartbeat and go into farming full time. I love working outdoors and hard physical work doesn't scare me at all. I think I actually prefer it.

Yeah that's fine when you're in your 20's. Try working in those conditions for low pay and without healthcare when you are in your 50's.

 

[WIP]

Yeah that's fine when you're in your 20's. Try working in those conditions for low pay and without healthcare when you are in your 50's.

Read my last paragraph. If I could afford it I would be farming full time. My health care would be my responsibility but I would totally enjoy it. Incidentally, I am in my 50's.

 

[Lewis]

I am in my 50's too, 57 to be exact. I remember in 1970 when the minimum wage was I think, a $ 1,65 a hour, I was making like almost 60 bucks a week, at a fast food joint, working 3 or 4 days a week, sometimes I only got 40 0r 30 bucks because the hours were not there. I remember serving Muhammed Ali one time and the manager came out and gave him a milk on the house, that's how cheap they were.

 

[Mike S]

It's funny, most of those people work inside in a nice comfortable safe environment. I wonder what they would do if they had to work in the heat and the cold. And in nasty environments like a guy that is abrasive blasting, or burning scrap metal with a torch.

Personally I think most of those jobs listed must be filled by a bunch of cry babies.

My first job was pumping gas, checking oil, and washing windshields for $1.25 an hour. It was mostly outdoor work, and I enjoyed it. Later, in the summers while I was in college, I worked for the county highway department sandblasting bridges, and paving roads, working 10 hours a day. It was hot, nasty work...and I was never so happy and fit in my life. After earning my degree, I've worked indoors, in management positions. I like it better when I was outside. But...I was younger then.

I agree that teaching can be an unhappy job. It's not only that the parents don't support you, but the administration won't either

 

[Mike]

I'll be honest and admit that I haven't done manual labor since my summer jobs during college. I imagine there would be plenty to be unhappy about when you're taking years off your life in a tough job. One summer I was a security guard at an auto supplier plant. I still remember the looks on the faces of those auto workers as they slugged into the plant.

Physical labor aside, I really think any job can be a good job or a bad one depending on the people you work with and like they said about nurses. Work is work, but having to interact with egos, agendas, politics, ladder-climbers, miserable people who want everyone else to be miserable too. They make a good job bad.

On the other hand, a team of people committed to working together and getting along can make for fulfilling days. And it really comes down to the department you're in. We define our company's culture by the department we're in. If someone asks you how the culture is where you work, you will likely define it by your immediate team.

 

[joethemechanic]

You guys are kinda looking at those jobs with rose colored glasses. Like I say, try doing them in your 50's in the heat and the dirt, breathing "God only knows" what kind of dust and fumes and knowing that it's destroying your health.

 

[elizabethbraddock]

It's funny, most of those people work inside in a nice comfortable safe environment. I wonder what they would do if they had to work in the heat and the cold. And in nasty environments like a guy that is abrasive blasting, or burning scrap metal with a torch.

Personally I think most of those jobs listed must be filled by a bunch of cry babies.

Mental stress is just as wearing on a person as physical stress; in fact, even more so. There are more long-term health related problems associated with mental stress. In any of these jobs listed, most of the work doesn't stop when your shift is over. The work goes home with you.

I work in the healthcare field, and am in training to be a physician. Working in an ER can be a hazardous work environment. You're constantly in danger of inadvertent needle sticks that can give you God only knows what kind of disease, dealing with ignorant and aggressive patients; some encounters can turn violent in an instant. Just three weeks ago, a doctor had his nose broken when an altered patient assaulted him.

It's easy to look at your own job and think that others have it easy. I have family in the military; I'm sure they'd laugh at any of our jobs and think we have it easy, and that we're cry babies.

 

[joethemechanic]

And there is no mental stress associated with knowing you are breathing asbestos, lead paint dust, and the vapors from industrial solvents?

I've had friends die young from breathing Trichlorethylene, MEK, and Xylene

 

[Nick]

I think it's interesting that all of these jobs are white-collared jobs. Most, if not all of them have a high degree of mental stress. I guess it goes to show that mental pressure > physical pressure.

As a teacher-in-training I'm not too surprised that it made the list. I know many teachers that don't like the job, but for others it is deeply rewarding. Regardless of how rewarding it is, for their qualifications, the effort they put up with and the relatively poor working environment, the pay is minimal. Holidays are a plus, but a proper teacher spends much of that time lesson-planning, marking etc. I think many teachers are unprepared on how to deal with parents and how to deal with administrative work. Luckily in my course we get taught this.

When I say rewarding, this is to the exclusion of pay rises and promotions. Unless you become a HT, it's a largely dead-end job in both of those regards. Teachers should be rewarded not on experience (as currently done in my state) but rather on results and quality teaching. This would help cut down on those terrible teachers that often get into the job for the wrong reasons.

Nursing.....not surprised at all. Horrible hours and little reward for it. In the ER, can't imagine the stress. I think Nurses are perhaps one of the most undervalued occupations out there. I admire their work, and the work of any in the medical profession

 

[jasoncran]

Mental stress is just as wearing on a person as physical stress; in fact, even more so. There are more long-term health related problems associated with mental stress. In any of these jobs listed, most of the work doesn't stop when your shift is over. The work goes home with you.

I work in the healthcare field, and am in training to be a physician. Working in an ER can be a hazardous work environment. You're constantly in danger of inadvertent needle sticks that can give you God only knows what kind of disease, dealing with ignorant and aggressive patients; some encounters can turn violent in an instant. Just three weeks ago, a doctor had his nose broken when an altered patient assaulted him.

It's easy to look at your own job and think that others have it easy. I have family in the military; I'm sure they'd laugh at any of our jobs and think we have it easy, and that we're cry babies.

no, not me and i have been overseas. i worked less in afghanistan then i do now. mental stress is 85% of war.