low on the totem pole

low on the totem pole

Having the least amount of experience, authority, and/or influence in a social or corporate hierarchy. The president has made it clear that the environment is low on the totem pole for his administration. I know I'll be low man on the totem pole with this internship, but it will at least give me a place to start in my career!
See also: low, on, pole, totem
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • low man on the ladder
  • low man on the totem pole
  • the low man on the totem pole
  • the lowest rung on the ladder
  • totem
  • high man on the totem pole
  • at the bottom of the food chain
  • at the top of the food chain
  • from on high
  • under the influence
References in periodicals archive
As a documentary producer you're low on the totem pole at Banff, and you have to work your way through a large crowd of producers and broadcasters.
Currently, management of your rehab program probably depends on people who are low on the totem pole. The evaluating therapist decides to place someone in a program and determines the intensity of the program.
In the media hype over the impending year 2000 (Y2K) bug, education has been low on the totem pole of national technological worries.