Survey Reveals Most Satisfying Jobs
Jeanna Bryner
LiveScience Staff Writer
SPACE.com
Firefighters, the clergy and others with professional jobs that involve helping or serving people are more satisfied with their work and overall are happier than those in other professions, according to results from a national survey.
“The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching and protecting others and creative pursuits,” said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey (GSS) at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. [...]
Three occupations—clergy, firefighters and special education teachers—topped both the job-satisfaction and overall happiness lists. Roofers made it on the bottom of both charts, with just 14 percent of roofers surveyed reporting they were very happy.
People who scored high on the happiness scale had the following jobs:
Clergy
Firefighters
Transportation ticket and reservation agents
Housekeepers and butlers
Hardware/building supplies salespersons
Architects
Mechanics and repairers
Special education teachers
Actors and directors
Science technicians
I'm not unhappy doing what I do, although I do tend to complain a lot. Still, the idea of hanging out all day in a hardware store sounds kinda cool. But then you see clergyfolks have the highest happiness, and you don't have to worry about fires except of the eternal sort, like you would if you're a fireman. I don't know why ticket agents would be that happy, or butlers, though. Maybe I could start a church in a hardware store with a design studio next door and triple-dip on the happiness scale.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 18, 2007 12:58 PMYou know, I can believe that about the hardware store folks. For some reason the ones I have dealt with, such as the guys at Rocky Ridge Hardware, seem to be the NICEST folks--and perhaps that is because they enjoy what they are doing? But unfortunately I am not "handy" and that is one occupation I think I'd better stay away from. Maybe I can start a cult...
Posted by: Stan at April 18, 2007 01:25 PMI dunno, Stan--"cult member" doesn't seem to have a very high happiness rating.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 18, 2007 01:28 PMThey should clarify that they are NOT referring to the employees of the large warehouse places.
The employees of Big Orange and the other place have not impressed me with their sunny dispositions or overall joviality.
Posted by: skinnydan at April 18, 2007 01:29 PMI bet "cult overlord" probably does, though.
Posted by: Stan at April 18, 2007 01:54 PMI don't see any sort of Advertising people on the list either...
I have noticed the folks at Ace are much nicer than the general run of employees at a big box store (unless you happen to find an old timer who actually knows what he's talking about, they tend to be much nicer than the surly younger people who don't know a ten-penny nail from a deck screw)
Posted by: Dave at April 18, 2007 02:17 PM