[Yaelle]

I would not like the job of having to dress like a giant chicken and stand by the side of the road with a sign trying to get people to stop at your car lot or see your model homes. I'd rather rake stables.

[hispanarepublicana]

Tied for worst jobs of all time:
Proctologist to Michael Moore
Gynecologist to Hillary Clinton
Drycleaner to Hillary Clinton's suit, "Old Crusty"
Urologist to Bill Clinton
Mustache Waxer to Rosie O'Donnell
Bikini Waxer to Helen Thomas
Publicist for the Dixie Chicks

[oyez]

What about the guy that collects skunk stink.

[PUGACHEV]

I worked like a dog to put myself through law school many years ago. One of the jobs I enjoyed best was working as a trashman. I wasn't hard work, the hours weren't long, you got to hang off the side of the truck, you could make as much noise as you wanted, you didn't have to dress up, no one could ever accuse you of betraying the dignity of your office, and -- best of all -- you could wave at girls on the sidewalk as the truck drove by them. I'm sure that just made their day!

[Hugin]

How about being a taxi driver? Having to pick up random strangers on the street and take them to any dark, god-forsaken place they choose while carrying cash and not allowed to be armed.

Statistically far more dangerous than being a cop or fireman.

[metalboy]

Worst job of all? Being a member of the paparazzi. Why these guys would submit themselves to a job that requires you lick the buttocks of hollyweirds just to take their freggin` picture is something I`ll never understand. It must be like forcing yourself to tongue clean the toilet in a porta potty.

[backhoe]

I ran a sewage-treatment plant-- 5 million gallons a day-- back in the 1970's...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

..[T]hey nearly always start with trash collector? Not I!

I worked as a trash collector one summer for the NYC Department of Parks, when I was 19. It was actually fun. Lots of exercise, you're outdoors, scenery changes, you're always busy. We did a scheduled 8 hour route in 4 hours everyday, and went home, which is why we were busy. Also, lots of free time. Worst part was two days a week we had to pick up at the Queens Zoo. Mostly wolf droppings at the time, about 2000 lbs, in 55 gallon cans.

Not that I'd want to make a career of it.

[demkicker]

How bout working as a cashier at a corner store open 24 hrs a day and wondering when (not if) the next robbery will take place?

[The Other Harry]

The thing about the firefighters is no joke. I tried taking EMT training and mentally blew out of it. I'll try it again, but...

What they go thru kept me up at night. I literally lost sleep contemplating it.

Firefighter? 100 times as bad. Maybe a million times as bad. A quadrillion.

It is them, the cops, and the paramedics who do the heavy lifting.

I have little sympathy for most public employees, but I do for them. Doubling their pay would not be enough.