World’s Most Depressing Job Makes Just $2,500 a Year

Publicly disclosing one’s salary is still considered to be impolite in some circles, but the magazine Parade has rounded up a wide range of Americans who have allowed the rest of us a window into their financial worlds. In the company’s annual salary report, pay for every occupation from NASA engineer to small-town mayor is made known.

Some of the highest earners are to be expected, like the CEO of an air filter company who earns $249,500 per year and a business consultant that pulls in $114,000. Some are less expected though. Dan Nainan, a comedian in New York, earns $328,000, according to the survey. A bridal shop owner in Rhinebeck, New York, makes $250,000.

Many of the more fascinating jobs came in on the other end of the scale. A movie projector technician in St. Paul, Minnesota earns $40,000. A knife assembler in Olean, New York makes $48,000. And a part-time clown who goes by the name “JR Jugglges” in Topeka, Kansas makes just $2,500.

The data is hardly empirical, but it is interesting to get a peek into so many different people’s lives. See the full list on Parade’s website.