The Five Most Underpaid Jobs

Have you ever felt that you weren't being paid what you're worth? If so, you're not alone. Many people work at jobs that they feel are low paying and thankless. It made me wonder which jobs are the most underpaid. In order to find out, I did a little research and found an article from Salary.com that had an interesting list.

Here are the top five most underpaid jobs:

Pest Control ($27,959) – Although shows like “Billy the Exterminator” make pest control look almost glamorous, it's a tough job. These people have to crawl in attics, under houses and everywhere else to find and eliminate wild animals, rodents and bugs. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. Although it's dirty work, these pest control technicians aren't making much. Personally, I don't think I would be willing to deal with bugs, rodents and other pests for such a low salary.

Police Patrol Officer ($50,193) – Police patrol officers often deal with people who are upset, drunk, on drugs and who are often violent – making it a very dangerous job. In addition to that, many people dislike the police and officers are met with community resistance, avoidance and even mocking. Whether you love or hate the police, they have a dangerous and under appreciated job. Even I was surprised that they work for such a small salary.

Security Guard ($28,696) – Although a security guard's job may not be as dangerous as a police officer's, they have to work odd hours, often at night. They typically don't have many co-workers and may work in dark, quiet buildings, making the time pass extremely slowly. In addition, security guards are entrusted with guarding the safety of technology, equipment or even money that can be considerably more valuable than their salary. I was surprised at how low their annual salary was, because it doesn't make sense to pay someone almost minimum wage to guard an armored truck full of money.

Electric Lineman ($58,024) – When a storm hits, whether it's a hurricane or an ice storm, these dedicated people are out there working to keep the power on. They have to work in rain, sleet, snow and bitter cold, and their jobs aren't easy. In order to repair downed power lines, they have to use heavy equipment and repeatedly lift 40 to 50 pounds. In addition, they are always at risk of electric shock or workplace accidents.

Army Private - E2 ($17,848) – These soldiers have to go through a rigorous boot camp and additional training. From there, they will work in situations where their lives are on the line. They often are put in combat situations where even small mistakes can cost their lives or the lives of their team. Even when they aren't on the front lines, these people have to maintain extreme discipline and strength in order to do their jobs well. Although the military does offer many benefits, they are often seriously underpaid for what they do.

What other jobs do you think are terribly underpaid? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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