Lowest Paying Federal Job: What They Are and Why People Still Take Them

When people think of federal jobs, they imagine high salaries, pensions, and perks—but not all lowest paying federal job, entry-level positions in the U.S. federal government that start near minimum wage but come with benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and job security. Also known as GS-1 positions, these roles are the starting point for millions who later move into higher-paying government careers. These aren’t dead-end jobs. They’re often the only door open to people without college degrees, those re-entering the workforce, or veterans needing stable work with predictable hours.

These jobs include roles like Postal Service clerk, entry-level workers handling mail sorting and delivery in rural areas, often paid under the GS-1 pay scale, Data entry operator, staff who input records for agencies like the IRS or SSA, working in regional offices with minimal supervision, and Custodial worker, cleaning federal buildings from courthouses to national parks, often hired locally to serve their own communities. None of these require a degree. Most require only a high school diploma or GED. And while the base pay might be under $30,000 a year, the benefits—health insurance, paid leave, retirement contributions, and no risk of layoffs—make them valuable.

What you won’t hear much about is how these jobs act as stepping stones. Someone starts as a GS-1 clerk in a rural post office, learns how government systems work, takes free training offered by the agency, and within five years moves into a GS-5 or GS-7 role managing records or assisting the public. That’s the real story behind the lowest paying federal job: it’s not about the starting salary. It’s about access. For people in small towns with few employers, these positions are lifelines. They’re not glamorous, but they’re reliable—and that matters more than paychecks when you’re raising a family or rebuilding your life.

You’ll find these roles in every state, especially in rural counties where private sector jobs are scarce. The federal government hires locally, often posting openings on USAJobs.gov with no competitive application process beyond a basic background check. And while tech and AI are changing how government works, these entry-level roles still exist because someone has to open the doors, sort the mail, enter the data, and clean the offices. They’re the quiet foundation of public service.

Below, you’ll find real stories and guides from people who started here—how they moved up, what they wish they’d known, and why these jobs still matter in 2025. No fluff. No hype. Just the facts about what these roles really offer.