My Husband has the Third Worst Job in America…. No One Told Me!

How surprised I was today to learn that my husband has the third worst job in America! He would be quite surprised too, given that he is presently very fulfilled by his work. According to the CareerCast.com ranking, a number of factors were considered in developing the list, such as Physical Demands, Work Environment, Income, Stress and Hiring Outlook. 

The career coach in me was struck by what I find to be a somewhat naive look at job rankings. From working with people one-on-one, I know that different people enjoy different things in a work environment. Some, like my husband, enjoy physically demanding labor, deal well in high pressure situations and are more concerned with making a difference than millions of dollars. CareerCast failed to recognize one of the most important factors in defining a good job–if the people who actually do it enjoy it.

The military spouse in me was taken aback by the message this ranking sends to our troops and their families. As a service man or woman returns from months or years away from their family to defend America, how might it feel to hear your job is viewed as one of the worst in the country? Imagine risking your life to defend a country that doesn’t believe your job is desirable. 


I know the intention of the folks at CareerCast was not to demean our military, but the rankings have certainly caused a stir among its families and supporters. It is no surprise that being in the military is a thankless job in many cases, but it is a valuable one. You only need to attend one homecoming ceremony to know this is true. Watch the pride and tears on the families’ faces as their service member marches into the gym and listen to the bursts of excitement and anticipation and you will know exactly what it means. It’s more than America’s third worst job…it’s duty and honor.