noun, masculine/sɑ̃.ɡʁad/plural: sans-grades
person relegated to the bottom of the social ladder
“C'était un des gagne-petit de la P. J., l'un de ceux qui, faute d'une certaine instruction de base, restent des sans-grades pendant toute leur vie.” — He was one of the little men of the Criminal Police, one of those who, through the lack of a certain basic education, remain unpromoted all their lives.
From sans + grade.