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As the job market further diversifies and new vocations emerge while old ones fade away, a common skill among CareerCast’s top-rated jobs is math. Not everyone is so lucky to be in a growing field, however, and CareerCast has also found what might be considered the least attractive jobs in 2015 - many involving dangerous work conditions, or a murky job market.

View CareerCast’s full report at The best jobs of 2015


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10. Mail carrier

The mail carrier, with a median income of $41,068, joined this list after dropping seven spots since 2014. According to CareerCast, the profession has been on a steady decline with the proliferation of email and text messaging.


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Firefighters at work

9. Firefighter

Staying at the same spot from last year, the firefighter comes in at No. 9. A vital role in society, protecting property and lives, it’s a career that takes a particularly steely individual to be jumping into burning buildings at a median annual salary of $45,264.


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8. Taxi driver

Having to deal with irate customers in world of honking horns and fender benders, taxi drivers take the 8th spot on the list, four spots up from 2014. With low salaries hovering around $23,118 and the increasingly popular use of ride-share programs like Uber, the taxi driver profession could start to see another decline as technology develops.


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7. Corrections officer

With the many dangerous challenges of working in a corrections facility and a lackluster average $39,163 annual salary, it’s no real surprise this career found its way to this list.


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6. Photojournalist

As the newspaper continues to be shredded to a barebones industry, photo departments have been scrapped for syndicated services. Along with being thrust into occasionally hazardous situations, making a mere $29,267 a year, photogs, as the industry insiders call them, continue to decline, dropping nine spots on the list to come in at No. 6.


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5. Broadcaster

With no change since last year, broadcasters remain in the No. 5 position. The marketplace has become more competitive as media outlets are opting more for syndicated content. For those who can land a full-time gig, expect some high stress levels, for salaries at around $29,347 a year.


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4. Cook

Dropping down two spots, these culinary masterminds (excluding Giada and Bobby) deal with, quite literally, some very hot situations: from stressed kitchens to demanding patrons. The old adage, "if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" really comes into play. A median cook’s income is $42,208.


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3. Enlisted military personnel

Remaining steady in the No. 3 spot, enlisting in the military isn’t for everyone. According to CareerCast, signing up for a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces requires resolve and dedication far beyond that asked in most careers. Becoming enlisted military personnel means facing danger and high stress, and bringing home roughly $44, 283 a year.


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2. Lumberjack

Making its way out of the No. 1 spot, lumberjacks can face dangerous situations in relative isolation. And as CareerCast points out, volatility in marketplaces completely outside the logging industry's control could further impact the hiring of lumberjacks. Still, while no longer the worst job, and making $34,110 … lumberjacks might not go the way of the dinosaur just yet.


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1. Newspaper reporter

Readership has steadily moved from print publications, whether they be newspapers or magazines, in favor of online outlets. The resulting decline in advertising revenue has left newspapers and newspaper reporters feeling the pinch. Although median incomes equate to $36,367, the light at the end of the tunnel for a good writer could be a move into more lucrative PR, advertising or marketing roles. -30-


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