OUTDOOR adventure guides may have an awesome job, but they're among the lowest paid workers in the country.

The most recent government statistics on employee earnings show that fast food cooks are the country's lowest paid workers.

And despite the stereotype that low paid jobs require little skill, a number of the lowest paid jobs in the country require formal qualifications, including hairdressers and beauty therapists who must do apprenticeships.

In descending order:

10. Waiters - $41,909 per year

Waiters who serve food and beverages in hotels, restaurants and clubs earn slightly more than those who work in cafes (number 8 on the list).

9. Veterinary nurses - $41,376 per year

Veterinary nurses care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assist veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

The average yearly salary of the veterinarians they assist is $57,439.

8. Cafe workers - $40,420 per year

Cafe workers may have similar responsibilities as waiters and cooks - the ABS lists their duties as preparing and serving food and drinks, taking orders, clearing tables and washing dishes - but they still earn less.

Cooks earns $44,216 per year on average.

7. Beauty therapists - $40,165 per year

Beauty therapists provide skin analyses, facial therapies, skin-care treatments and body treatments such as massage to clients.

They are required to have an AQF Certificate II or III. Specialist workers that come under the umbrella of "beauty therapists" include electrologists (hair removers) and manicurists.

6. Pharmacy sales assistants - $39,369 per year

The people that accept your prescriptions for filling by pharmacists and advise you about non-prescription medicines are among the country's lowest paid workers.

They are the lowest paid sales assistants in Australia, earning less than motor vehicle sales assistants ($68,260), IT and computer sales assistants ($52,780), service station attendants ($52,348), street vendors ($51,423), checkout operators ($47,850) and general retail sales assistants ($42,962).

5. Sewing machinists - $39,250 per year

Sewing machinists operate industrial sewing machines to sew and finish garments and soft furnishings such as curtains.

4. Hairdressers - $38,865 per year

We might complain that the price of a haircut is becoming too expensive but spare a thought for the person cutting your hair, who is in the fourth lowest paid profession in Australia.

3. Outdoor adventure guides - $38,319

Living life on the edge does not mean living life cashed up.

Bungy jump masters, white water rafting guides, outdoor adventure instructors, fishing guides, hunting guides, mountain guides and trekking guides are all among the lowest paid workers in the country.

2. 'Other' hospitality workers - $38,054

The ABS includes doorpersons, luggage porters, glassies and bussers in this group.

1. Fast food cooks - $37,705

It might sound cliched but flipping burgers and frying hot chips is the least lucrative way to make a living in Australia.

These figures were taken from ABS data on the average gross earnings of full-time non-managerial adult employees.

###