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Revealed: News reporter is the worst job in the world (but it's good news for death predictors)

CareerCast.com has analysed and ranked 200 careers according to five criteria: physical demands, income, stress, work environment and hiring outlook

John Hall
Wednesday 24 April 2013 15:04 BST
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(Rex Features)

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It's official, I have the worst job in the world.

That’s according to a new survey by the website CareerCast.com, who have analysed and ranked 200 careers and found the lowly news reporter to be the worst.

The jobs were ordered according to five criteria: physical demands, income, stress, work environment and hiring outlook, with long hours, low salaries and dwindling hiring and career progression prospects ensuring news reporters prop up the list.

Other careers in the bottom 10 include lumberjack, enlisted military personnel, actor, oil rig worker, dairy farmer, meter reader, postman, roofer, flight attendant and farmer.

Prospects were considerably better for actuaries however, as a pleasant work environment, low stress levels and strong hiring outlook suggests life is sweet for people who interpret statistics to determine the probability of accidents, sickness and deaths.

Biomedical engineers, software engineers, audiologists, financial planners and dental hygienists have equally cushy lives according to Career Cast, with a strong hiring outlook the major factor in the results.

According to Career Cast’s publisher Tony Lee, a severe shortage of actuaries has dramatically increased wages in a job that already scored highly for low stress levels and pleasant work environment.

On the subject of news reporters scoring so low, Mr Lee said: “What probably pushed it to the bottom is that several things got worse. Job prospects decreased, the average salary continued to fall and work hours continued to rise. Those factors make the job more stressful.”

CareerCast.com’s full list (ranked from best to worst) can be found below:

1. Actuary

2. Biomedical Engineer

3. Software Engineer

4. Audiologist

5. Financial Planner

6. Dental Hygienist

7. Occupational Therapist

8. Optometrist

9. Physical Therapist

10. Computer Systems Analyst

11. Chiropractor

12. Speech Pathologist

13. Physiologist

14. University Professor

15. Veterinarian

16. Dietitian

17. Pharmacist

18. Mathematician

19. Sociologist

20. Statistician

21. Physicist

22. Optician

23. Podiatrist

24. Web Developer

25. Historian

26. Environmental Engineer

27. Parole Officer

28. Petroleum Engineer

29. Meteorologist

30. Geologist

31. Human Resources Manager

32. Civil Engineer

33. Orthodontist

34. Respiratory Therapist

35. Medical Records Technician

36. Astronomer

37. Psychiatrist

38. Computer Programmer

39. Social And Community Manager

40. Market Research Analyst

41. Paralegal Assistant

42. Dentist

43. Skincare Specialist

44. Industrial Machine Repairer

45. Physician (General Practice)

46. Logistician

47. Accountant

48. Management Consultant

49. Social Worker

50. Physician Assistant

51. Surgeon

52. Vocational Counselor

53. Bricklayer

54. Surveyor

55. Nurse (Registered)

56. Archeologist

57. Museum Curator

58. Psychologist

59. Glazier

60. Technical Writer

61. Architect

62. Event Coordinator

63. Occupational Safety/Health Inspector

64. Loan Officer

65. Nuclear Decontamination Technician

66. Plumber

67. Medical Technologist

68. Stenographer/Court Reporter

69. Recruiter

70. Biologist

71. Bookkeeper

72. Medical Laboratory Technician

73. Public Relations Executive

74. Insurance Underwriter

75. Executive Assistant

76. Electrician

77. Automobile Body Repairer

78. Insurance Agent

79. Judge

80. Nuclear Engineer

81. Online Sales Manager

82. Mechanical Engineer

83. Hair Stylist

84. Communications Equipment Mechanic

85. Tax Examiner/Collector

86. Receptionist

87. Sewage Plant Operator

88. Librarian

89. Industrial Designer

90. School Principal

91. Zoologist

92. Anthropologist

93. Elementary School Teacher

94. Construction/Building Inspector

95. Pest Control Worker

96. Emergency Medical Technician

97. Industrial Engineer

98. Electrical Engineer

99. Nurse (Licensed Practical)

100. Aerospace Engineer

101. Construction Foreman

102. Automobile Mechanic

103. Teacher's Aide

104. Stockbroker

105. Security Guard

106. Fitness Trainer/instructor

107. Chauffeur

108. Truck Driver

109. Purchasing Agent

110. Clergy

111. Typist/Word Processor

112. Forklift Operator

113. Computer Service Technician

114. Architectural Drafter

115. Appliance Repairer

116. Funeral Director

117. Attorney

118. Ironworker

119. Sales Representative (Wholesale)

120. Economist

121. Agricultural Scientist

122. Recreation Worker

123. Animal Care And Service Worker

124. Advertising Account Executive

125. Chemist

126. Construction Machinery Operator

127. Purchasing Manager

128. Broadcast Technician

129. Airline Pilot

130. Nurse's Aide

131. Medical Secretary

132. Electrical Technician

133. Conservationist

134. Machinist

135. Advertising Salesperson

136. Dental Laboratory Technician

137. Child Care Worker

138. Film/Video Editor

139. Furniture Upholsterer

140. Salesperson (Retail)

141. Jeweller

142. Choreographer

143. Drill-Press Operator

144. Machine Tool Operator

145. Sheet Metal Worker

146. Taxi Driver

147. Carpenter

148. Artist

149. Aircraft Mechanic

150. Bartender

151. Electrical Equipment Repairer

152. Estate Agent

153. Caretaker

154. Engineering Technician

155. Corporate Executive (Senior)

156. Author

157. Bus Driver

158. Welder

159. Hotel Manager

160. Rubbish Collector

161. Stationary Engineer

162. Bank Cashier

163. Seaman

164. Carpet/Tile Installer

165. Shipping/Receiving Clerk

166. Police Officer

167. Firefighter

168. Publication Editor

169. Cashier

170. Air Traffic Controller

171. Construction Worker

172. Photographer

173. Seamstress/Tailor

174. Painter

175. Car Assembler

176. Precision Assembler

177. Buyer

178. Dockworker

179. Disc Jockey

180. Military General

181. Maid

182. Butcher

183. Fashion Designer

184. Broadcaster

185. Waiter/Waitress

186. Tax Preparer

187. Dishwasher

188. Photojournalist

189. Corrections Officer

190. Farmer

191. Flight Attendant

192. Roofer

193. Mail Carrier

194. Meter Reader

195. Dairy Farmer

196. Oil Rig Worker

197. Actor

198. Enlisted Military Personnel

199. Lumberjack

200. Reporter

A full breakdown of how the rankings were worked out can be found at CareerCast.com, or by clicking here.

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