NationStates Jolt Archive

Career isn't the only factor in determining someone's overall happiness, but it's certainly a major contributor. So, what kind of jobs do the happiest people in the U.S. have? And, what about these jobs contributes to overall happiness in life? A University of Chicago study, "Job Satisfaction in the United States," offers some insight.

The study says the occupations where people report being happy overall, not just in terms of job satisfaction, involve helping others, technical and scientific expertise, or creativity.

Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center at UC, elaborates: "Happiness is determined by how much satisfaction you get from all domains of life, and work is an important domain, so it's one of the major components of overall happiness."

According to the study, the top occupations in general happiness are:

1. Clergy
Job Description: Conduct religious worship and perform spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination.

Very happy: 67.2%
Median salary*: $44,102

2. Firefighters
Job Description: Control and extinguish fires, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.

Very happy: 57.2%
Median salary: $45,553

3. Transportation, ticket, and reservation agents such as travel agents
Job Description: Travel agents plan and sell transportation and accommodations for travel agency customers.

Very happy: 56.5%
Median hourly rate (travel agents): $14.23

4. Architects
Job Description: Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.

Very happy: 53.5%
Median salary: $54,079

5. Special education teachers
Job Description: Teach school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students.

Very happy: 52.6%
Median salary (preschool, kindergarten or elementary school): $41,344
Median salary (secondary school): $43,060

6. Actors and directors
Job Description: Actors play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or motion picture productions for entertainment, information, or instruction.

Very happy: 51.0%
Salary varies greatly

7. Science technicians
Job Description: Use principles and theories of science and mathematics to solve problems in research and development, and to help invent and improve products and processes.

Very happy: 51.0%
Median salary (research scientists): $72,435

8. Miscellaneous mechanical and repairing occupations
Job Description: Automotive service technicians and mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

Very happy: 53.6%**
Median hourly rate (mechanics/auto tune up): $15.26

9. Industrial engineers
Job Description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.

Very happy: 48.4%
Median salary: $61,729

10. Airline pilots and navigators
Job Description: Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for transport of passengers and cargo.

Very happy: 49.1%
Median hourly rate (airline pilots, copilots, or flight engineers): $63

Link (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-where_do_america_s_happiest_people_work-569)

So, are you happy at your job? What do you do at your job? What job would you be happy at?

What, bankers aren't happy enough to make the list? ;)

I just quit my job delivering pizzas after three years. Tomorrow is my last day, and I've gotta say I'm happy to be out of there. Then in a bit more than a week I'm going to Sydney to work for an investment bank. I suppose I'll know more when my internship is over.

What, bankers aren't happy enough to make the list? ;)

I just quit my job delivering pizzas after three years. Tomorrow is my last day, and I've gotta say I'm happy to be out of there. Then in a bit more than a week I'm going to Sydney to work for an investment bank. I suppose I'll know more when my internship is over.

I'm surprised Special Ed is on that list, that job would drive me crazy.

I work as a sound technician for the venues that my University and the union owns. I guess I'm pretty happy with it. It looks as though when I graduate I'll be getting a job in the city (if I do well that is) as an investment banker or something, at least that's what the careers centre keeps pressurising everyone into. Not sure if I want to do it though.

I'm surprised Special Ed is on that list, that job would drive me crazy.
It's not a position you just fall into, the people who teach these classes want to be there and derive a lot of satisfaction from it. And that's not even mentioning that special ed kids might be nicer to their teachers than others.

It's not a position you just fall into, the people who teach these classes want to be there and derive a lot of satisfaction from it. And that's not even mentioning that special ed kids might be nicer to their teachers than others.

So I guess you have to be one of those touchy feely kind of people. Which I am not.

I'm surprised Special Ed is on that list, that job would drive me crazy.

Well I suppose the people who want to make a difference and do make a difference are the ones who stay in the long run. And considering they are the ones who are doing what they want to be doing and enjoy helping out kids who are in need for special ed, and when they see them making a difference it makes them happy.

I have no job, and I was going to start an internship in a couple weeks time, but due to this economic downturn that position has been taken away so yeah.

What, bankers aren't happy enough to make the list? ;)

I just quit my job delivering pizzas after three years. Tomorrow is my last day, and I've gotta say I'm happy to be out of there. Then in a bit more than a week I'm going to Sydney to work for an investment bank. I suppose I'll know more when my internship is over.

We need to have a "we quit our jobs" celebration. :tongue:



In response to the OP: Until two days ago, I was a jewellery retail sales assistant and I dispised my job. I loved working with beautiful things and helping people find pieces they love, but I couldn't stand the people I worked with. They were so sales orientated and bitchy. They constantly contradicted themselves and were complete hypocrites. And I was going to quit, except I didn't want to let them down before the Christmas rush, then *bam* I was fired!

It looks as though when I graduate I'll be getting a job in the city (if I do well that is) as an investment banker or something, at least that's what the careers centre keeps pressurising everyone into. Not sure if I want to do it though.
Don't do it if you're not sure. The money is great, sure, but the pressure and hours can be pretty insane too. There's a big incidence of substance abuse and mental problems, particularly depression. The only way to put up with it is to love what you're doing, if you just sorta do it because you happened to have been good enough to get the job, you might just end up miserable.

Well I suppose the people who want to make a difference and do make a difference are the ones who stay in the long run. And considering they are the ones who are doing what they want to be doing and enjoy helping out kids who are in need for special ed, and when they see them making a difference it makes them happy.

I have no job, and I was going to start an internship in a couple weeks time, but due to this economic downturn that position has been taken away so yeah.

Ouch...sorry to hear that.

We need to have a "we quit our jobs" celebration. :tongue:



In response to the OP: Until two days ago, I was a jewellery retail sales assistant and I dispised my job. I loved working with beautiful things and helping people find pieces they love, but I couldn't stand the people I worked with. They were so sales orientated and bitchy. They constantly contradicted themselves and were complete hypocrites. And I was going to quit, except I didn't want to let them down before the Christmas rush, then *bam* I was fired!

Why were you fired?

It's not a position you just fall into, the people who teach these classes want to be there and derive a lot of satisfaction from it. And that's not even mentioning that special ed kids might be nicer to their teachers than others.
They also have a much higher failure rate than other teachers (Which is already pretty damn high IIRC). Most don't make it past their second year so by the time you talk to established (Tenured) Special Ed teachers, they're the nutty ones who really do like it.

As for me, still teaching and STILL loving it, even if I do want to strangle my students from time to time. :p

well i should have a 51% chance of being very happy with work in the future. At the present in retail I feel like shooting myself some days to avoid work

Don't do it if you're not sure. The money is great, sure, but the pressure and hours can be pretty insane too. There's a big incidence of substance abuse and mental problems, particularly depression. The only way to put up with it is to love what you're doing, if you just sorta do it because you happened to have been good enough to get the job, you might just end up miserable.

Hmmm, well, there's nothing about working in the city in a competitive environment in itself that I dislike. Just the reports coming in of high rates of stress which in turn causes high rates of depression which puts me off, not the nature of the job itself. But what else would you suggest for someone studying economics?

Ouch...sorry to hear that.

Cheers mate, it doesn't matter to much I am still young and hopefully when things pick up again I can get into a graduate program or hopefully I will get accepted into the honours program or the Masters degree next year.

interesting that clergy are #1... and that they earn so much. though a lot of the other categories are pretty vague. #3 surprised me quite a lot.

am i happy at my job? well, i work as an IT dogsbody in a small agency, which means i'm a graphical designer, artworker, photographer, server admin, website monkey, database admin, the tech guy, as well as an analyst for market research and something of a product development man as well. the upside is its creative, challenging, and changing, in that most days are different. the downsides are that it never goes away, its very stressful, and its largely thankless (we deal with 800+ clients through our main client, and so very few of them ever call to say nice things... all we ever get are the complaints and nags).

all in all, i'm fairly happy, but i don't want to do this forever. if it earned better, then maybe... but frankly i'd like to try to get into just one of the many areas i work at now - i'd like to specialise and not be a jack of all trades. i feel i'd be happy as a food photographer, as it is the right blend of creativity and technicality.


thinking about it, though, its not just what you do that can make or break a job. its how you're allowed to do it. that balance of responsibility and power. when you have responsibility to get something right, but not power or authority to do so, then even if the job is perfect for you, you're going to find it infuriating and not be happy. well, i would.

Hmmm, well, there's nothing about working in the city in a competitive environment in itself that I dislike. Just the reports coming in of high rates of stress which in turn causes high rates of depression which puts me off, not the nature of the job itself. But what else would you suggest for someone studying economics?
Well, there's central banks, treasuries and government departments (I'd only consider the first one though). Then there's consulting, firms like Access Economics here are quite popular. Plus most corporations above a certain size have their own forecasting departments.

But then, even within the banks there are different positions. Investment banking and corporate finance as well as trading are obviously high-tempo, high-pressure jobs. Forecasting and modelling within the same institutions probably aren't easy-going either, but a different kettle of fish.

Seriously though, everybody needs economists. It's not like you can't pick the environment you like.

I'll probably be happy at my job once I finish grad school and become a history professor somewhere...

Right now, work sucks. I work as a teaching assistant... I put in tons of hours and all I get is a stipend on my tuition. While lower tuition is always nice, I'd sort of like some cashing flowing into my wallet too.

For money, I teach guitar lessons. As someone who has played guitar since I was five years old, I generally hate sitting there teaching rich kids (who normally have no interest in the insturment) how to play the guitars their parents got them for Christmas or their Birthday. The work sucks, but I make bank doing it (relative to the jobs typical full time grad students have).

Why were you fired?

Because I didn't "gel with the team".

The team consisted of:
a) a pregnant 20 year old who stopped talking to me. She wouldn't even say hello. She'd spend all day not talking to me. If I tried to get into a cabinet to show a customer something, she wouldn't move. She'd walk right up to customers I had already spoken to, and evil eye me in front of them if I even tried to help at all.

b) a crazy middle aged woman with a superiority complex. She speaks very loudly and is just completely nuts. She interupts even the MANAGER in the middle of conversations. She talks down to you in front of customers and interupts you when you're serving, tells customers that the glass statues are from China (which we're not allowed to say) and then steals the customer away from you.

c) a blonde, airhead who was really friendly and I quite liked her, but according to the manager she took a year to learn what I've learnt in 3 months.

d) the manager: an anal retentive woman who insists she is laid back, who uses middle management vocabularly. She'd act really nice, then all of a sudden when I'm serving a customer, she'd make a bitchy comment right down her nose at me, or yell "NO. YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. DO IT SLOWER." Or she'd get mad at me for leaving 1 item out, when the crazy woman would leave a thousand things out all the time.

e) the assistant manager: she was all right, but I knew she didn't like me.

f) an eccentric Asian woman who would scream "hello how are you what can I help you with today!" at customers the moment they walked in the store, even if I'd already said hello. She also ignored major security risks, like a drugged up guy with loads of cash in his wallet, then got mad at me for being suspect of him.

The other day the crazy woman had a go at me about my age, saying that customers want someone older. Then why the hell did they hire me? I said "I'll involve a senior in a conversation about diamonds next time, but please don't bring my age into it", and she was offended. And I'm pretty sure that conversation is what lead to the firing.

well i should have a 51% chance of being very happy with work in the future. At the present in retail I feel like shooting myself some days to avoid work

That's how I felt.

(I'd only consider the first one though).

How come?


Then there's consulting, firms like Access Economics here are quite popular.
Plus most corporations above a certain size have their own forecasting departments.


Hmmm *does google search for consulting firms*, what about this http://www.londoneconomics.com/?


But then, even within the banks there are different positions. Investment banking and corporate finance as well as trading are obviously high-tempo, high-pressure jobs. Forecasting and modelling within the same institutions probably aren't easy-going either, but a different kettle of fish.


Well, how difficult would it be if I really wasn't enjoying investment banking to just transfer to a forecasting environment?

Actually I don't think that firm recruits graduates.

How come?
I got pissed off with working for the government when I tried it last year. But if you don't mind "government-talk" and the not-for-profit motive, I think it's worth considering. Governments do always need more economists, and someone has to stand up to the politicians. The central banks have the advantage that there are few if any politicians or bureaucrats in it.

Hmmm *does google search for consulting firms*, what about this http://www.londoneconomics.com/?
Yeah, firms like that. There are plenty of them around, usually senior people at banks who can't really make it into the top ranks and are sick of it, leaving to start their own companies.

Well, how difficult would it be if I really wasn't enjoying investment banking to just transfer to a forecasting environment?
I guess that depends on whether they like you. :tongue:

To be honest, I'm hardly an expert. My connection with the industry so far consists largely of email exchanges. But I suspect the way it would work is with positions being advertised internally before going to the market and you'd be able to apply for it. I suppose the skill sets are a bit different though - corporate finance/investment banking is about making deals, building relationships and having a really thorough grasp of debt vs equity, funding options and costs and all the other corporate finance maths. Forecasting is more econometrics and modelling, obviously.

How come?

Government departments? Seriously mate, you don't really want to go into government departments, the hours are bitchy, the environment is almost ridiculous, you don't have the freedom as you would in a private firm and I'm sure that there are plenty of other reasons that Leon can probably tell you.

Though you could go into government departments for a few years and then move into the private sector depending on what department you have worked for.

As for jobs for economists, there are plenty of private firms which could take you into other areas if that's what you want to do. IO suppose it depends on what courses you have taken during your degree, I myself have taken a couple of marketing courses during my economics degree and so I could move into a marketing division for a large company.

I was exceptionally surprised that the average wage for clergy was over $40,000. They must have deliberately excluded preachers who work for free or spend their own money to keep the church from falling behind on bills in order not to skew the average down.

I got pissed off with working for the government when I tried it last year. But if you don't mind "government-talk" and the not-for-profit motive, I think it's worth considering. Governments do always need more economists, and someone has to stand up to the politicians. The central banks have the advantage that there are few if any politicians or bureaucrats in it.


Hmm, this is the main government recruiter: http://www.ges.gov.uk/. Seems relatively straight forward, only need a 2:1 in terms of qualifications. Also, doesn't seem to have anything to do with politicians either.


I guess that depends on whether they like you. :tongue:

To be honest, I'm hardly an expert. My connection with the industry so far consists largely of email exchanges. But I suspect the way it would work is with positions being advertised internally before going to the market and you'd be able to apply for it. I suppose the skill sets are a bit different though - corporate finance/investment banking is about making deals, building relationships and having a really thorough grasp of debt vs equity, funding options and costs and all the other corporate finance maths. Forecasting is more econometrics and modelling, obviously.

Cool, thanks for the info.

As for jobs for economists, there are plenty of private firms which could take you into other areas if that's what you want to do. IO suppose it depends on what courses you have taken during your degree, I myself have taken a couple of marketing courses during my economics degree and so I could move into a marketing division for a large company.

What do you mean by courses, as in optional ones that aren't part of your degree? I have an option to do an internship for an investment bank during my second year, would that count as a 'course'?

I'm surprised Special Ed is on that list, that job would drive me crazy.
I've taught special education students. It's challenging in some ways, but often very rewarding.

So I guess you have to be one of those touchy feely kind of people. Which I am not.
You'd better not be a touchy feely kind of person if you're a teacher...

So I guess you have to be one of those touchy feely kind of people. Which I am not.
No more so than any other teacher, really. Just a bit more stress.
They also have a much higher failure rate than other teachers (Which is already pretty damn high IIRC). Most don't make it past their second year so by the time you talk to established (Tenured) Special Ed teachers, they're the nutty ones who really do like it.

As for me, still teaching and STILL loving it, even if I do want to strangle my students from time to time. :p
Last I heard for regular teachers, it was a majority burnout within 5 years of employment. Majority burnout for Sped is within two, I think.



As for my job, I hate it. It's awful, and, while I like my coworkers, I hate the management for the most part, and despise the fact that it isn't professional work.

What do you mean by courses, as in optional ones that aren't part of your degree? I have an option to do an internship for an investment bank during my second year, would that count as a 'course'?

Yeah elective topics is what I meant as opposed to core topics for your degree.

If the option to do an internship can be apart of your degree and you get units going towards your degree, than yes it would be a 'course'. But if that is an option and you know you can do it I would suggest that you do it, that way you can see what it is like and decide if that is something you want to go into after you have finished.

You'd better not be a touchy feely kind of person if you're a teacher...

haha :D

If the option to do an internship can be apart of your degree and you get units going towards your degree, than yes it would be a 'course'. But if that is an option and you know you can do it I would suggest that you do it, that way you can see what it is like and decide if that is something you want to go into after you have finished.

But that might mean quitting my other job, which I quite enjoy. :(

What do you mean by courses, as in optional ones that aren't part of your degree? I have an option to do an internship for an investment bank during my second year, would that count as a 'course'?
Wait, the uni sets that up for you? Sweet, here I had to do all the work myself, and beat out hundreds of other applicants.

No, by courses he would have meant the specific ones you chose. You can choose a major, and there would also be a few electives in your degree structure as well. If you chose a finance major with corporate finance electives, you're obviously more suitable for some jobs that wouldn't be a good bet if you specialised in development economics.

But that might mean quitting my other job, which I quite enjoy. :(

Well, that is something for you to figure out I suppose. If there was a way you could leave your job and come back once you have finished then I suppose you wouldn't have much problem.

If you do go into and do the internship then you can find out about the job and if it is something you want to do. With that experience from the internship it will give you a head start when applying for a graduate position and with a good reference will make you more favourable in the eyes of the employer.

Wait, the uni sets that up for you? Sweet, here I had to do all the work myself, and beat out hundreds of other applicants.

I know if only they did do it here. I know the unis here do it for engineering students but that is because they have to do vacation work in order to graduate.

You'd better not be a touchy feely kind of person if you're a teacher...

*facepalm* I meant one of those touchy feely emotional teachers.

Wait, the uni sets that up for you? Sweet, here I had to do all the work myself, and beat out hundreds of other applicants.


Well, ok I wasn't being completely truthful. I can't just do an internship at will, it is competitive, but the careers center assists you heavily in conjunction with the banks, so you have a good chance of getting a place, as long as you're not a complete idiot (which I hopefully aren't).


No, by courses he would have meant the specific ones you chose. You can choose a major, and there would also be a few electives in your degree structure as well. If you chose a finance major with corporate finance electives, you're obviously more suitable for some jobs that wouldn't be a good bet if you specialised in development economics.

Well at the moment, all the courses I'm doing are economics based (principles of econ, international econ, economics workshop, and Economics of European integration) and one maths course. I could have done any course, instead of international econ and economics of European integration, and was considering first philosophy and then a management course, but was too lazy and didn't think it was that important. :tongue: I'm not sure if there was an option to do marketing though.

Last I heard for regular teachers, it was a majority burnout within 5 years of employment. Majority burnout for Sped is within two, I think.
Here's hoping I make it. I'm sneaking up on year 5 right now and haven't run screaming from the classroom yet. :D

Oddly enough though, the fifth year is also the usual make or break year for expats in Japan as well. Most go home on or before their fifth year. Those that make it through year 5 usually end up staying for quite a bit longer, if they ever go home. That's next year for me too.

*facepalm* I meant one of those touchy feely emotional teachers.
Better not be one of them either as a teacher.

*facepalm* I meant one of those touchy feely emotional teachers.
Why would you ever need or want to be a "touchy feely emotional" person when you are teaching? Hell, I'd say that is a good way to ensure failure.
Here's hoping I make it. I'm sneaking up on year 5 right now and haven't run screaming from the classroom yet. :D

Oddly enough though, the fifth year is also the usual make or break year for expats in Japan as well. Most go home on or before their fifth year. Those that make it through year 5 usually end up staying for quite a bit longer, if they ever go home. That's next year for me too.


Better not be one of them either as a teacher.
I'd say that if you can make it through both teaching and culture shock, you're good to go with at least the teaching.

Here's hoping for year one on my side ;)

Better not be one of them either as a teacher.

Why not?

Why not?
Caring about your kids, good idea.
Getting involved with your kids, even better idea.
But becoming emotionally involved with your students where you cease to view them as students is just asking for trouble. Not from the sexual side, but just from the expected role as a teacher. You can't. You'll either cause a lot of pain when you either have to reassert yourself as a teacher or find that you cannot, or you'll be torn apart each and every time you have to say goodbye. The kids move on, you don't.

Someone who gets all touchy feely like that is not going to be able to last long as a teacher.

*facepalm* I meant one of those touchy feely emotional teachers.
How do you define "touchy feely," then? I don't think we have the same thing in mind, and I don't consider myself a particularly "emotional" teacher...

Why would you ever need or want to be a "touchy feely emotional" person when you are teaching? Hell, I'd say that is a good way to ensure failure.

I'd say that if you can make it through both teaching and culture shock, you're good to go with at least the teaching.

Here's hoping for year one on my side ;)

"My captain, my captain!"

We need to have a "we quit our jobs" celebration. :tongue:



In response to the OP: Until two days ago, I was a jewellery retail sales assistant and I dispised my job. I loved working with beautiful things and helping people find pieces they love, but I couldn't stand the people I worked with. They were so sales orientated and bitchy. They constantly contradicted themselves and were complete hypocrites. And I was going to quit, except I didn't want to let them down before the Christmas rush, then *bam* I was fired!

Hope you get a better job soon.


My current job is in radio. I'm a DJ, sound board operator, studio mascot, and just about everything else they need me to be. The recently created a special job description for me "Broad Operator" but it didn't come with a pay increase or anything so meh. Am I happy, yes. Am I very happy.. no I barely work more than 20 hours a week most of the time and the pay rate is ridiculously low. I have been looking for a better job for months, and I am sure I won't even be close to as happy with it but financial stability is becoming more important right now.

Up until very, very recently (about 30 mins ago) I escorted supply trucks from Kuwait to southern Iraq. There were days I loved that job, and days I hated it. In the very near future I'll be a college student again, a job I enjoy a great deal.

Hope you get a better job soon.


My current job is in radio. I'm a DJ, sound board operator, studio mascot, and just about everything else they need me to be. The recently created a special job description for me "Broad Operator" but it didn't come with a pay increase or anything so meh. Am I happy, yes. Am I very happy.. no I barely work more than 20 hours a week most of the time and the pay rate is ridiculously low. I have been looking for a better job for months, and I am sure I won't even be close to as happy with it but financial stability is becoming more important right now.

It sounds sweet, but maybe you need to find something that pays more... Maybe there's another station?

It sounds sweet, but maybe you need to find something that pays more... Maybe there's another station?

Yeah... no. I am supposed to be getting a job full time as a jock on the newest network created by the station but with the economy we have few advertisers, fewer advertisers means tighter budget, tighter budget means less full time employment.

Spent my 30+ year career in Emergency Services. Started out with the volunteer rescue squad in my home town right after high school, then went into corporate security for a few years. From there I became a Public Safety Officer (police/firefighter) for 10 years. When the city decided to go back to traditional PD and FD, I went with the fire service as an engineer.

Of all the emergency services, I loved being a firefighter the best. I was medically retired due to an on the job injury, and I am currently a 9-1-1 supervisor for a medium size agency.

What job?

I'm happy in my job (professor) - decent pay, plenty of freedom to do what I want (no boss constantly looking over my shoulder, etc.), fulfilling work. Not a bad gig if you can get it.