2015′s worst entry-level jobs

The results are in: if you work as a floor assembler, you have the worst entry-level job out there.

That’s according to WalletHub’s 2015 Entry-Level Jobs Report, which looks at the first-timer employment landscape by comparing 109 different types of entry-level positions based on 11 key metrics, such as starting salary, industry growth rate, and injury rate.

For high-school students getting ready to graduate, here are the top 10 jobs to steer clear of.

- Floor assembler: The median annual salary is $35,467, according to Salary.com. The job involves simple, routine, and repetitive tasks involving physical labour and the use of hand and power tools, all while working under close supervision. Also of note: “Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment,” Salary.com says in its job description.

- Sheetmetal mechanic: Plan on spending your days setting up and operating machines such as drill presses, punch presses, shears, bending rolls, brakes, and grinders while following blueprints, rough sketches or engineer drawings to shape metal accurately. On the positive side, if you stick with it and progress to Level II, you stand to make anywhere from $43,460 to $74,449 a year, according to Salary.com (which doesn’t list salaries for Level 1). Fun fact: Centuries ago, sheet metal was used to make body armour for men in a cavalry, according to eHow.

- Refinery operator: Whether it’s producing gasoline, kerosene, or other substances, here’s some of what the an operator does all day, according to Careers.com: “moves and sets controls, such as knobs, valves, switches, levers, and index arms on control panels to control process variables, such as flows, temperatures, pressures, vacuum, time, catalyst, and chemicals by automatic regulation and remote control of processing units such as heaters, furnaces, compressors, exchangers, reactors…” The list goes on.

- Consumer loan servicing clerk: When someone applies for a mortgage or home equity loan, it’s this person’s job to make sure all the documentation is in order, such as a title report and appraisal, and fast. Lots of data entry and phone calls.

- Claims processing clerk: Here’s a snippet of Salary.com’s job description: “Reviews claims forms and documents for accuracy and completion and obtains missing information as necessary. Determines claims coverage by examining company records. Responsible for calculating claims amounts and submitting claims for payment. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent.” The median salary is $42,667.

- Boilermaker: This job ranked as one of the most dangerous on WalletHub’s list. Occupational diseases related to boilermakers include asbestosis, respiratory diseases, cancer, skin disorders, and neurological conditions, with workers exposed to toxic substances such as asbestos, ammonia gas, PVC, benzene, coal tar, ultraviolet light, and solvents, according to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada, boilermakers build, erect, repair, test and maintain all types of boilers, tanks, and pressure vessels and perform all types of structural and plate work on dust, air, gas, steam, oil, water and other liquid-tight containers. They shape metal, cut metal plate and brackets using an oxy-fuel torch, and fit and tack weld parts together using electric arc welding equipment. According to the brotherhood, hourly wages across the country in 2013 ranged from $29.09 in Newfoundland and Labrador to $41.84 in Alberta. Fun fact: Boilermaking was recognized as a stand-alone craft more than 300 years ago.

- Electronics assembler: Here’s what these people do in a typical day, according to CareerPlanner.com: “Crimps, stakes, screws, bolts, rivets, welds, solders, cements, press fits, or performs similar operations to join or secure parts in place, using hand tools, power tools, machines, and equipment.”

That’s not all: “Mounts assembled components, such as transformers, resistors, transistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and sockets on chassis panel.”

- Policy processing clerk: See claims processing clerk and consumer loan servicing clerk above for an idea of a typical day’s work, only here you’re dealing with insurance policies.

- Building inspector: Most building inspectors are employed by governmental agencies like municipal building departments, according to CareerOverview.com. They make sure that structures comply with local building codes and regulations concerning zoning. “They inspect the area before the foundation is even built, check the depth of the footings, and make sure the land on which the structure is built is stable,” the website states. “Also, inspectors look at both structural soundness and fire safety. Based on the size and kind of structure, the surrounding buildings, and what will be kept in the building, they make sure that buildings have proper sprinkler systems, smoke control, emergency exits, and alarm systems. Which, compared to the tasks of an electronics assembler, doesn’t sound so bad.

- Welder: This is another very dangerous job, with starting salaries throughout the country ranging from $37,919 to $55,317, according to Salary.com. You need to joins, fabricate, and repair metal and other weldable material by applying appropriate welding techniques. According to Medic8, common injuries are those to the eyes and the skin. Welding produces ultra-violet and infra-red radiation which heats the surface of the skin causing burns. It can also damage the surface of the eyes in a condition known as ‘arc eye’.

That’s not all: Intense heat is produced during the welding process, and fumes can cause a range of respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or occupational asthma, Medic8 says. Manganese poisoning is caused by the inhalation of manganese fumes produced when working with carbon steel and can lead to serious side effects, including slurred speech and Parkinson’s disease

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