11 Hardest Jobs to Get in America

By   |  November 18, 2009

astronautFrom Astronauts and Astronomers… to Private Cooks and the President… here is a look at the 11 hardest jobs in America to land. The chances of giving birth to twins, dating a supermodel and winning an Oscar are all greater than getting any of these careers.

ASTRONAUT

What they do: Astronauts are highly trained personnel that command, pilot or operate a spacecraft to uncover the universe. Military jet test piloting and engineering training are cited as prerequisites for selection as an astronaut at NASA. NASA astronauts go through a 20-month training process that includes high performance jet training and extra-vehicular training (buoyancy and weightlessness training) to prepare them for jet-setting to the “great beyond.”

Why the job is hard to come by: Looks like most people will not be heading to the moon anytime soon as chances of becoming an astronaut: 12,100,000 to 1. NASA hires a fleet of about a dozen astronauts each year. Compare that figure to the number of management positions that open up annually—around 150,000—and you can get a sense of how competitive this field is. Plus, potential NASA candidates don’t even have a chance at becoming a team member until they have years of experience under their belt…The average age of a candidate is 36 years old.

ASTRONOMER

What they do: Afraid of flying but still love gazing at stars and learning about infinity and beyond? Well astronomy might be for you. Astronomers are scientists who study celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies. These researchers observe, measure, interpret and develop theories to explain extraterrestrial activity using intricate mathematics. Similar to astronauts, this profession requires extensive study. Most astronomers have obtained a PhD in physics or astronomy and are employed by the federal government, universities or scientific research firms.

Why the job is hard to come by: According to the Occupational Supply and Demand chart supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, there are only 50 openings a year in this field—and only 1,280 practicing astronomers documented. With the combination of the small number of openings per year and the brainpower needed for this profession, you can see why astronomers top the list of hardest jobs to get.

MODEL

What they do: On the opposite spectrum of brainpower are models. Contrary to astronomers who utilize their brainpower, these buxom professionals are defined by their outer beauty. Models showcase apparel and garments to prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, and retail outlets, as well as for advertising and artistic expression.

Why the job is hard to come by: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1,660 individuals are professional models and only 80 high-profile careers in this field open up a year. Models are literally and figuratively “starving artists” as there is an extremely small pool of people that hit the bit time in modeling.

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE

What they do: Similar to models, professional athletes rely on their body as a vessel for success. Professional athletes are active in the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS—and provide entertainment for millions of viewers by dueling teams and exhibiting physical aptitude. Most professional athletes have dedicated their lives to fine-tuning their athletic skills.

Why this job is hard to come by: Keep your day job. The chances of becoming a professional athlete is about 24,550 to 1—so you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning, marrying a millionaire or writing a New York Times bestseller. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 9,380 professional athletes you have a .00565% chance of becoming a professional athlete.

PROFESSIONAL REFEREE

What they do: For as long as professional sports are played there will be a need for referees and umpires. Professional referees enforce rigid rules and regulations during a professional sports match.

Why this job is hard to come by: Want to become a professional referee? Chances of making this profession a career is even more unlikely than becoming a professional athlete. The recruitment process for this position is extremely grueling as candidates have to go through introspective psychological tests. Plus there are only 1,980 people are employed in this field—so opportunities in this field are few and far between.

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD COOK

What they do: Private household cooks plan menus and prepare meals in private homes based on the recipes or tastes of their employer—who are often high-society pro sports figures, models and entertainers. Professional cooks often have a specialty such as cooking for families or health-conscious individuals and have a seasoned background in the culinary industry.

Why the job is hard to come by: Though finding a career as a chef in a restaurant may be fairly easy to come by, this is not the case for private cooks. The Occupational Supply and Demand System forecasts only 180 openings from 2006-2016 in this profession and there are currently only 980 cooks dicin’ up their culinary specialties in private homes.

MATHEMATICAL TECHNICIAN

What they do: If you are a number-crunching brainiac, then this career is for you. This career forces individuals to reduce raw data into meaningful information by applying standardized mathematical formulas, principles and methodology to problems in engineering and physical sciences. AKA—Mathematical Technicians translate numbers into tables, graphs and correlate finding to daily life.

Why the job is hard to come by:  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are only 1,100 mathematical technicians in America, and only 40 openings for this position in the next few years. With the small window of opportunity, plus the necessity for idiot savant-like intelligence, this job tops the list of hardest jobs to come by.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

What they do: The President of the United States is arguably the most important and high-profile job in the United States. The President serves as the head of state and government of the nation. This elected official leads the executive branch of the federal government and serves as the face of the U.S. in foreign affairs.

Why this job is competitive:  Despite having a skeleton-free closet, an unfettered sense of confidence and pools of adoring supporters, there are age and residency requirements for becoming the president of the United States—which eliminates a lot of potential candidates for the position. Presidential candidates must be a natural-born U.S. Citizen, over 35 years old and must be in 14 years to be president. Plus: experience is a must with this position as most Presidential candidates have a rich history in the political sphere as lawyers, senators and activists.

PROSTHODONTIST

What they do: Take great care of your teeth, because if you lose them you will need a Prosthodontist… and you might have trouble finding one. One of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Prosthodontists make dentures, crowns and bridges. This profession is extremely specialized—as there are only 370 people who specialize in this type of implant, esthetic and reconstructive dentistry.

Why the job is hard to come by: The combination of educational requirements and the supply of people in Prosthodontics makes this position extremely rare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are only 30 openings expected between 2006 and 2016, making this the hardest profession to get into on the list. In addition, becoming a Prosthodontist requires an additional three years of postgraduate specialty training after obtaining a Doctor of Dental Surgery or DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine degree… That’s 23 years of schooling!

GEOGRAPHER

What they do: A Geographer is a scientist whose area of study is geography, the study of earth’s physical environment and human habitat. Geographers identify, analyze and interpret the distribution and arrangement of features of the earth’s surface, while also studying climate and ecological patterns of certain areas. Geographers often specialize in cartography (map making), climatology and ecology—all jobs that are rare to come by.

Why these jobs are hard to come by: Similar to Astronomers and Mathematical Technicians, this profession requires extensive study and natural brainpower. In addition to its inherent qualifications, there are only 40 openings annually for this profession (Occupational Supply and Demand System). Plus, the pool of practicing geographers is extremely small too: at only 1,100 people.

FOREST FIRE INSPECTOR

What they do: These professionals enforce fire regulations and inspect for forest-fire hazards. They also report forest fires and weather conditions.

Why these jobs are hard to come by: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there is only a projected need of 38 Forest Fire Specialist between (2006 and 2016). Plus, individuals in this field are almost solely employed by the government, so there is a rigorous screening and selection process for this career. With only 1,800 people in this profession to-date, you can see why Forest Fire Inspectors make the list of hardest jobs to land.

* The list was compiled by data-crunching the projected annual average job openings from 2006 through 2016, as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), the number of employed persons in the field and the percentage of growth rate.

This article was contributed by Rasmussen College. Find this article and similar articles here.

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47 Comments on “11 Hardest Jobs to Get in America”  (RSS)

  1. The hardest job is being a Asian that cooks cat, dog, and horse in america when you’re constantly getting chased by the cops.

  2. I can’t stop peeing in my pants HELP YOUR MOTHER….please?

  3. wow

  4. well some poeple dont care about this website and me i dont give a s**t

  5. um… i like dots

  6. One can have a look on toughest examinations Questions and answers of IIMs (India’s premier B-Schools)

    https://youtu.be/yfRbS3m_uTA

  7. About white guys not being in the all-star games of the NBA anymore has nothing to do with white people skills. Let’s not be idiots we’re all human and bleed red, think about it. Most college white guys are preps who come from a wealthy family. And on the otherhand most college black guys are from the ghetto who have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Black athlete’s have nothing to fall back on so they have a lot more motivation than the white guys do. White athletes lack the determination to be a great athlete There I solved the riddle, where’s my check. Haha just joking but uhhhh go Lakers!

  8. It’s high time to eliminate the jew.

  9. Your wrong who ever wrote this. Being the guard of the “Tomb of The Unknown Soldier” or being in any branch of Military, army, Air-force, Navy, and Marines Is. Look it up. Those jobs listed are nothing. Being a model is the easiest, nice body is all they want. Professional Athletes and Referees, athletes get attention for nothing and referees wave there hands around for a living.

    • You are stupid as they come. How many generals are there in the United States Army? How about the fact that there’s only 1 CSM of the army? Enlisting is easy, like you said, but getting to the higher ranks is very very difficult. Jeez you are dumb.

  10. Check this site if you must booking inexpensive flights.

  11. En route air traffic controller should have made the list!!

  12. Stop coming here and writing anything this article is for people that wish to learn more and think positive Don’t make your comments in a educated place.

  13. America land of debt, greed, and empty dreams”……………..also has a high rape ratio…you should all move

  14. Famous celebrities, Fashion trends, Arts and Architecture, Food recipes, funniest things, Health Information, World History, Infrastructure news, Latest Movies, World Records, Sports and recreation, Technology News, travel guide, Wild life.

  15. ANY job is difficult to get in America.

    What kind of sick country where PhD and master graduates are struggling to get low wage jobs?

  16. To Kevin:

    The article does say “practicing” astronomers. Not all AAS members are practicing astronomers. I imagine that junior and associate members would not be considered “professional” by the author’s count either. So the question is: what is the fraction of US, practicing astronomers among full members?

    The International Astronomical Union has fewer than 10,000 members, and that’s for the entire planet.

  17. There are way more astronomers in the US than 1280…not sure where that number came from…the American Astronomical Society, the professional society for working astronomers has ~4500 Full members, ~1200 Junior members and ~1000 associate members…nearly all of these are US and we know we have an uptake of membership among ‘practicing’ astronomers between 80 and 90 percent in the US (although this is somewhat anecdotal). This would mean that there are something more like ~8500 ‘astronomers’ in the US.

  18. Afraid of flying… don’t apply as astronomer.
    How are you going to get to the observatory… swimming and walking?

  19. No, the hardest job to get in America seems to be Laboratory Assistant or Technician for the Biotech industry. One bachelor’s degree in Biology or any of the life sciences, although the stated minimum requirements, is not enough. I’m starting to think you have to KILL someone to break into the entry-level in any of the science fields. Either that or have no less than a PhD just to sterilize the lab equipment or stack microscopes or God forbid, clean up after and feed the lab animals.

    No, check that. Any job that calls itself “entry level” and says it requires the exact college degree you HAVE, is the hardest job in the country to get when you are Native American and DO possess the right degree in the right field. Because the minute you show up you get treated as if you’re in the wrong place or at worst, their jaws drop when they see you and they go over time and time again disbelief that YOU are the person on the resume that they’re looking right AT.

  20. ASTRONAUT IS NOT HARD..IT NEEDS BRAIN..SO USE IT WHO HAS IT..AND DRIVE ON MOON AND SUN AND OTHER STARS..SO..MOVE ON GUYS..THIS SITE IS SHOWING ALL IMPOSSIBLE BUT ITS REALLY NOT..:)HAHA

  21. ASTRONAUT IS NOT HARD..IT NEEDS BRAIN..SO USE IT WHO HAS IT..AND DRIVE ON MOON AND SUN AND OTHER STARS..SO..MOVE ON GUYS..THIS SITE IS SHOWING ALL IMPOSSIBLE BUT ITS REALLY NOT..:)

  22. I hate n*****s

  23. Hardest job is to be homeless. U dont know when your next meal is coming and top of all U have nothing 2 go 2 u r a Homosapian u move depending on W.E ur broke ur sick its a terrible position to be in so through all people need to be more giving because no one asked 2 be born…. #JustSaying

    • Homeless isn’t a job its a life style.

  24. Why is my cat so strange?

  25. im black bizzle nitch

  26. Whose the Author

  27. why do we hate black people

  28. I would say a very hard job to get would be DELTA FORCE operator. There only 360 of em.

  29. With Burt Rutan/Richard Branson’s Vigrin Galactic it is now easier to go to space, so I disagree with the astronaut part on the odds as it assumes that NASA is the only spaceline in America.

  30. VOCATION, NUMBER ONE RULE, ABILITY NUMBER TWO AND PATIENCE TO MASTER AND OUTSCORE THE BEST AT IT. THESE ARE THE ELEMENTS NEEDED TO BE CONSIDERED. THANKS FOR A MAGNIFICENT ARTICLE, THE HUGE AMOUNT OF DATA REQUIRED TO ASSEMBLE SUCH INFORMATION IS OUTSTANDING .

  31. Interesting article, thank you.
    I can now rule out these 10 jobs for future reference, but I think I knew that already. Mist of them you need a certain type of personality for (The movie “A Beautiful Mind” comes to me as well as our last President)
    And while being a supermodel is probably fun and all, and watching for forest fires, I think I’ll remain an ordinary American…although I must admit, being an astronaut would be so cool!!!
    Thanks again!

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