The Top 10 occupations in General Happiness

**Terminator** · 11-11-08, 01:22 AM

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

**IndianaFuzz** · 11-11-08, 04:17 AM

I went to college originally for Achitecture, but half-way through switched to criminal justice. Hmmmm, I guess according to this, I could have been more happy staying with architecture. Guess that just shows how off this list is, in my opinion. Yeah there is a lot of BS in our job, but I get tons of enjoyment and satisfaction out of it.

**Rhino** · 11-11-08, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by Terminator

A University of Chicago study...

Yeah, not putting too much stock in that study. Those 10 jobs are probably the 10 jobs where you are least likely to get shot at while going into work.

**Second Chance** · 11-11-08, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Rhino

Yeah, not putting too much stock in that study. Those 10 jobs are probably the 10 jobs where you are least likely to get shot at while going into work.

True Rhino and of course you not seeing Police Officers and Postal Service in that list................LOL, But at least in our profession we have to worry about being shot at by shit bags. But the Postal Service, i.e. mail carriers and worker bees have to worry about Joe Blow being pissed at his boss and shooting everyone at the office........................