What is the most satisfying job?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the typical workday for an ordinary American consists of eight hours, with a total workweek of forty hours. That accounts for more than a third of the total amount of time you are awake. When you consider how significant a part employment plays in your life, it should come as no surprise that landing a career that you like is critical to your overall sense of fulfillment.

But what exactly is it about a job that makes it "good"? The finest occupations, in the minds of many people, are profitable professions such as law, medicine, or business. However, research has shown that pay is not the most significant element in determining a job's quality. According to the findings of a well-known research that was carried out at Princeton University in 2010 and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the amount of additional happiness that may be gained through financial success is limited to somewhere about $75,000 per year. After that point, an increase in their income has minimal influence on the enjoyment they experience on a day-to-day basis.

What really counts is whether or not you can find personal fulfillment in the work that you do. Obviously, this is largely dependent on your unique character and preferences as an individual. However, research reveal that there are some characteristics that almost all of the most gratifying employment have in common. These characteristics include: It makes sense to zero in on occupations that satisfy these requirements if you want to choose a line of work that you can be satisfied with.

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Careers That Provide the Most Fulfillment

The degree to which a certain line of work satisfies one or more of the aforementioned criteria will vary from person to person. On the other hand, it is feasible to gain a general idea of which kind of employment individuals are more likely to find rewarding on average.

MyPlan, a website that helps people discover employment, recently polled more than 13,800 of its customers to find out how satisfied they are with their careers and then rated various occupations based on their responses. Payscale, an additional website, carried out a poll with over 2 million employees that was quite similar to the one described above. They were asked to assess not just how gratifying they found their occupations, but also how significant the jobs were, or how much they contribute to making the world a better place via their work. We examined both of these lists, as well as the findings from the NORC poll that was conducted in 2007, to determine which professions are said to provide the greatest levels of work satisfaction and meaningfulness.

After that, we used information on salaries to further narrow down this list. Even if some polls have shown that salary is not a significant factor in determining work happiness, it is still essential to make sure that one has enough money to live on, which is why we narrowed the list down to include only occupations that pay enough to support oneself.

We utilized the Family Budget Calculator that is provided by the Economic Policy Institute to determine how much money it amounts to (EPI). It provides an estimate of how much money a family needs to have in order to maintain "a modest but decent quality of life" in various regions of the nation. We used the calculator's results for Hawaii, which a 2019 CNBC study found to be the state with the highest cost of living compared to other states in the United States. This allowed us to ensure that the jobs on our list would all provide enough income to support a person in every state in the country.

The EPI calculator estimates that a person living alone in Hawaii County, Hawaii, need a yearly salary of $42,785 in order to meet their basic necessities. We eliminated all positions that did not pay at least this amount by using the average income numbers from Payscale and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both of these resources include compensation data. Take into account that this only constitutes a livable salary for one individual. According to the EPI calculator, you would need a substantially larger salary — at least $93,441 — to be able to sustain a family consisting of two adults and two children in the same region.

Finally, we ranked each profession according to the amount of room for expansion it has in the market. After all, it is a waste of time to set your eyes on a career that would make you happy and pay well if there is a little possibility that you will really be able to get that position. After reviewing the information provided by the OOH, we reduced the list down to occupations that are expanding at a pace that is at least average and are anticipated to produce at least 5,000 new jobs over the course of the next decade.

In light of these considerations, the following occupations should be at the top of your list.

1. Clergy

The term "clergy" refers to the religious leaders of all religions, including but not limited to priests, ministers, pastors, deacons, imams, and rabbis. This is a large category. People of the clergy are responsible for leading religious worship services as well as offering ethical and moral direction to the members of their congregation. They are in charge of leading prayers, reading from holy texts, delivering sermons, and either planning or leading programs for religious instruction. The criteria for becoming a member of clergy differ from religion to faith; nonetheless, the vast majority of clergy members have at least a bachelor's degree and have received some extra training on the job.

Both Payscale and the NORC research conducted in 2007 place this occupation at the very top of the list when it comes to work satisfaction. According to a poll conducted by Payscale, ninety percent of clergy members say they are satisfied with their profession, and an astounding ninety-eight percent think it has purpose. On Payscale's list, there is not a single other occupation that scores more than ninety percent for both work meaning and job satisfaction. On the other hand, according to the results of a more limited poll carried out by MyPlan, members of the clergy only place 19th on the list of the most gratifying jobs, with around 71% of respondents identifying it as such.

Given that individuals don't go into this line of work for the money, it's fortunate that it offers such a high level of job satisfaction. Payscale's survey of clergy members revealed a median annual salary of of $46,600, which is only slightly beyond the threshold we use to determine what constitutes a "living wage." (The median income is the amount that half of all employees in a field earn more than, while the other half earn less.) [C]omparatively, the median pay is the level that half of all workers earn less than. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the median annual pay for clergy members is a touch higher than the national average, coming in at $50,400; nonetheless, this amount is still not even close to being sufficient to maintain a family in many regions of the country.

The OOH does not go into much into on this line of work. On the other hand, according to other statistics from the BLS, this industry is expected to increase at a pace that is closer to the average, which is around 4 percent over the next 10 years. In the United States, there were around 243,900 members of clergy as of the year 2019, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that 9,700 additional employment would be created by the year 2029.

2. People who combat fires

Firefighters are the first individuals to arrive at the site of an emergency and are tasked with putting out the fire, evacuating people to a safe location, and assisting with the treatment of any wounded parties. They are also helpful to individuals in other kinds of emergency circumstances, such as when there is an automobile accident or a bomb threat. The National Fire Protection Association reports that roughly two out of every three requests for emergency assistance received by firemen are for medical-related incidents. The majority of the time, firefighters are required to perform 24-hour shifts, during which they eat and sleep in the fire station in between calls.

It is common practice for fire departments to require candidates for the position of fireman to possess both a high school education and certification as an emergency medical technician (EMT). The remaining portion of your education may be completed on the job at a fire school that serves either the city or the state. You are need to demonstrate that you are capable of activities like as climbing ladders, carrying victims, and managing heavy equipment by passing a written examination as well as a tough physical examination before you are allowed to work as a firefighter.

The work of a fireman is one that is both challenging and hazardous, but it also comes with a great deal of satisfaction, since firemen are often in a position to save people's lives. According to the results of the poll conducted by the NORC, this work comes in at number three on the list of the most gratifying employment. More than 87 percent of respondents rated it as extremely satisfying. On MyPlan, out of a total of 300 occupations, it is ranked second in terms of the percentage of respondents who find the work to be gratifying. Although it does not rate nearly as high as some of the other options, the study conducted by Payscale gives it a score of 83 percent for satisfaction and 88 percent for meaning.

Another occupation that just meets the requirements to provide for one's basic needs is that of a firefighter. Payscale reports that the typical annual income for firemen is only $43,100. [Citation needed] On the other hand, the OOH estimates that it is closer to $50,850.

The optimistic outlook is that employment opportunities in this sector will increase at a rate of around 6% per year over the next decade. The number of firemen in the United States is expected to increase from 335,500 in 2019 to 375,800 in 2029, according to projections made by the OOH.

3. Teachers

The exact nature of this position is difficult to pin down. It goes without saying that a teacher is someone whose duty it is to educate children; nonetheless, this definition is so all-encompassing that it encompasses a wide range of educators, from early childhood educators to college professors who teach a wide range of topics. Although the sources do not all agree on which sorts of instructors have the most gratifying work, teachers of some variety appear on every list, showing that the area of teaching as a whole is one that many people find to be rewarding.

The day-to-day responsibilities of a teacher, as well as the prerequisites necessary to become one, are very variable and are dependent on the specific kind of teaching that is being done. For instance, in order to teach kindergarten or elementary school, one typically needs a bachelor's degree as well as a state teaching certificate. These teachers are responsible for maintaining order in the classroom as well as instructing young children on how to interact appropriately with one another. College professors, on the other hand, often have a doctoral degree, and their job includes giving lectures, assessing papers, counseling students, and doing their own research in addition to their other responsibilities.

According to our sources, several modes of education get good marks for student satisfaction. According to the findings of the NORC survey, the role of "teacher," which does not include any additional descriptors, is the sixth-most gratifying employment in the United States. More than 69 percent of respondents gave this role good grades. MyPlan awards satisfaction ratings of 70% or greater to college professors teaching a variety of courses, instructors of vocational studies and self-enrichment education in middle school, high school, and college, respectively, and teachers of self-enrichment education. In addition, Payscale assigns ratings of over 70 percent to high school and middle school instructors in general, as well as college professors teaching a variety of disciplines at colleges (albeit, oddly, not typically the same subjects as MyPlan professors).

Teachers' potential earnings and careers might vary widely depending on the subject matter they teach. In general, greater degrees of education are associated with higher salaries for teaching positions. The following is a breakdown of the numbers:

Payscale does not include wages for elementary school teachers, and it puts the median earnings of kindergarten teachers at just $39,000 per year. Kindergarten and Elementary School Payscale does not provide salaries for elementary school teachers. On the other hand, the OOH estimates that kindergarten and elementary school teachers make a much higher median salary of $59,420 per year. It is projected that this industry will see a growth rate of 4% over the next decade and will generate 56,100 jobs between the years 2019 and 2029.

According to Payscale, the typical annual salary for middle school teachers is $44,100. Middle school teachers may get more information here. The OOH places a greater value on it, namely $59,660. It projects an increase in employment opportunities for middle school teachers of 4 percent over the next decade, leading to the creation of 22,500 more positions.

According to Payscale, the annual median salary for teachers working in secondary schools is $47,100. High School According to the OOH, the annual wage that is considered to be the median for high school teachers is $61,660. The industry will create 40,200 new positions by the year 2029, which corresponds to an average growth rate of around 4 percent over the next decade.

Payscale reports that the average annual salary for instructors working at postsecondary institutions is around $50,800. College: On the other hand, according to the OOH, their annual median income is $79,540. It is also said that this area is developing far faster than other forms of education, with growth of around 9 percent, which is equivalent to 121,500 new employment predicted by the year 2029.

4. Pediatricians

Pediatricians are medical professionals who focus only on the care of children. They devote the majority of their time to addressing issues that are unique to younger patients, including as treating frequent pediatric diseases and relatively minor accidents. In addition to this, they ensure that children are up to date on all of their childhood vaccines. Some physicians focus their practice on pediatric surgery, while others address severe illnesses that may afflict children, such as autoimmune diseases.

In order to practice medicine, pediatricians must first complete an extensive education program. They are required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or university, as well as successfully finish four years of medical school, followed by an internship and residency. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that a standard residency program in this profession lasts for three years, but combined residencies in pediatrics and another discipline of medicine take either four or five years to complete.

Although doctors of all specialties report high levels of job satisfaction, pediatricians rank especially high in this category. According to the statistics provided by Payscale, 88 percent of doctors believe that their work are extremely significant, and 89 percent believe that their careers are very gratifying. That is not nearly as high of a score for job meaning as certain other sorts of physicians, such as surgeons, psychiatrists, and anesthesiologists, but that is a much higher rating for work satisfaction than other jobs in the medical field. In addition, pediatricians come in at number four on the list of the greatest occupations, according to MyPlan. Eighty percent of pediatricians report being happy with their professions.

Not only do pediatricians enjoy the satisfaction of their profession, but they also make a comfortable livelihood from it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual pay for doctors in 2019 was $175,310. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide an estimate for the anticipated growth of this specific industry; however, it does state that employment opportunities for doctors and surgeons in general are anticipated to expand by 4 percent over the course of the next decade. Given that there are presently roughly 29,740 pediatricians working in the United States, a growth rate of that kind would result in 1,190 more positions for pediatricians by the year 2029.

5. Physiotherapists/Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are trained to assist patients in their recovery from injuries or diseases that give them pain and limit their range of motion. They do this by using methods like as stretches, various exercises, and body manipulation in order to assist patients experience less discomfort and experience improved mobility. After completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to enroll in and successfully finish a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree program. This may take up to three more years. A bachelor's degree and a doctor of physical therapy may be earned concurrently in some schools over the course of six or seven years.

According to the findings of the NORC survey, physical therapists have the second-highest average work happiness ratings in the nation, only behind clergy members who had the greatest job satisfaction ratings. Nevertheless, the scores for this profession in other sources are rather more contradictory. According to the statistics provided by Payscale, ninety percent of physical therapists think their work are very significant, but only seventy-two percent feel they are extremely gratifying. And according to the information provided by MyPlan, this line of work comes in at number 37 on a list of 300 different careers, with just 66 percent of respondents considering it gratifying.

However, physical therapists have no reason to be dissatisfied with their salaries or their opportunities for professional advancement. According to Payscale, the median salary for those working in this industry is $73,400, although the OOH puts it even higher at $89,440. In addition, the OOH reports that over the next ten years, employment in this sector is anticipated to increase by an astounding 18 percent, leading to the creation of 47,000 new positions.

6. Chief Executives

A person who is in control of an organization, such as a company, a nonprofit organization, a college, or a government agency, is known as the chief executive, chief executive officer (CEO), or simply the person in charge. While individual executives in a business may be able to concentrate on certain facets of its operations, such as marketing or the development of new goods and services, the CEO is responsible for looking at the bigger picture.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a firm is accountable for determining the organization's overarching objectives and policies, as well as overseeing all of the company's activities. The magnitude of this reality in day-to-day operations is directly proportional to the size of the organization. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a Fortune 500 business is responsible for collaborating with the board of directors to establish corporate policies as well as coordinating the efforts of a whole team of other executives and managers. In contrast, the chief executive officer of a small business, such as a neighborhood coffee shop, might be responsible for every aspect of the operation of the company, including the recruitment and instruction of new employees, the maintenance of financial records, and even occasional hands-on work in the kitchen.

The path to becoming a CEO can take many different forms. It typically entails climbing the management ranks in large corporations and working your way up from lower levels. Having a degree in business or in a discipline that is linked to the job that the organization does is beneficial. On the other hand, some people work their way up to chief executive positions by founding their own small businesses and guiding their expansion over time.

The NORC research does not look at chief executives in any capacity. On the other hand, according to the list maintained by MyPlan, they are rated 15th from the top despite having an overall work satisfaction rating of about 72 percent. Payscale reports that eighty-eight percent of CEOs find their work to be highly gratifying, and seventy-four percent find it to be extremely meaningful.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the typical annual salary for chief executives is $184,460. However, the BLS also notes that CEO salaries may vary greatly depending on the firm. The lowest 10 percent of earners in this industry bring in less than $62,290 annually. The BLS does not provide a prognosis for the growth of occupations explicitly for chief executives, but the OOH forecasts that jobs for "top executives" will rise at a rate of 4 percent over the next 10 years, leading to the addition of 115,000 new positions.

7. Psychologists

Psychologists investigate the human mind as well as the ways in which individuals engage with one another and the world around them. Some psychologists work in health care, diagnosing and treating mental health issues via the use of counseling, psychotherapy, and other behavior modification techniques. Other people are researchers who carry out experiments in order to investigate human mind and behavior.

The majority of psychologists have a doctorate degree, often either a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) or a doctor of psychology (Ph.D.) degree. Research is the primary objective of Ph.D. programs in psychology, while clinical teaching is the primary focus of Psy.D. programs. As part of their PhD training, psychologists who deal directly with patients are often required to additionally complete an internship lasting one year.

According to the findings of a recent survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), psychologists are the seventh happiest profession in the United States. According to the statistics provided by Payscale, 78 percent of psychologists regard their professions as being highly gratifying, and 88 percent describe their jobs as being extremely significant. On the other hand, this line of work has substantially lower ratings on MyPlan, with just 62.5 percent of psychologists reporting that they are satisfied with their professions.

According to research conducted by Payscale, the typical annual compensation for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists is $60,800. On the other hand, according to the OOH, the median wage of psychologists in general is a great deal higher, coming in at $80,370. In addition, it forecasts that this industry will expand by 3% by the year 2029, resulting in the addition of 5,700 new employment.

8. Private Investigators and Police Department Homicide Detectives

There are two distinct categories of private investigators. Investigation of criminal activity is the responsibility of detectives and other investigators working for police forces. In an effort to identify those responsible for the crime and bring them to justice, the investigators conduct interviews with witnesses, review documents, monitor suspects, and collect evidence. The majority of police detectives focus their efforts on investigating a particular category of crime, such as murder or fraud.

Private detectives, who are also known as private investigators (PIs), may look into crimes on behalf of victims, but the vast majority of the time, their employment entails looking into legal, financial, or personal issues. For instance, they may attempt to discover who is responsible for thefts committed by employees at a corporation, search for a person who has gone missing, investigate a person's past, or investigate a spouse who is cheating on the other as part of a divorce proceeding. Some private investigators work for major corporations, such as insurance firms, to investigate issues such as possible fraud.

The prerequisites needed to become a detective in the police force might differ from department to department. In most cases, candidates are expected to have completed at least their high school education in addition to the other necessary training in order to be considered for membership in the force. The vast majority of detectives begin their careers as patrol officers before being eligible for promotion to the detective division. Investigators working for the federal government, such as those employed by the FBI, are normally required to have a college degree.

In addition, private investigators often need a diploma from an accredited high school; however, many occupations demand either a two- or four-year college degree in a relevant discipline, such as criminal justice. In addition to that, they put in a minimum of one year of apprenticeship-style training. Many jobs in the private investigation industry require candidates to have prior experience in a relevant industry, such as law enforcement, federal intelligence, or the military.

The NORC report finds that "police and detectives" had an above-average job satisfaction rating, with 59.3 percent of respondents stating they are very pleased with their work. However, detectives did not make the list of the top-12 most satisfying jobs in the NORC survey. On MyPlan, criminal investigators make up 77% of those who view their job as rewarding, while private detectives make up 71% of those who say the same. According to Payscale's assessments, the position has an overall satisfaction rating of 74 percent and a high meaning rating of 78 percent.

Payscale estimates that the typical compensation for detectives and other types of criminal investigators is $67,300 per year. The Occupational Outlook Handbook does not include police detectives as a distinct profession; however, it does state that police and detectives receive a median annual pay of $65,170, while private investigators earn $50,510. It is anticipated that employment in the field of law enforcement would increase by 5% over the next ten years, leading to the addition of 40,600 new positions; however, the majority of these new positions will not be detective positions. Even though it is a smaller industry to begin with, the area of private investigation is forecasted to expand even more quickly than average, at a rate of 8%; nonetheless, it is only predicted to generate 3,000 new employment.

9. Medical Assistants in Primary Care

There is more to becoming a medical assistant, sometimes known as a PA, than just helping out a doctor. These medical professionals have a great deal of autonomy to provide care for patients on their own, although they are required to work under the supervision of a physician at all times. They are able to execute procedures such as setting a bone or delivering a shot, in addition to conducting physical examinations, ordering and interpreting tests, diagnosing ailments, and prescribing medications. PAs are not required to have as much training as doctors, but in addition to their four-year undergraduate degrees, they are required to complete a master's degree program that typically lasts for two years.

Although the NORC survey did not include physician assistants, prior research has shown that these professionals report high levels of work satisfaction. According to responses from more than 72 percent of PAs in a poll conducted by MyPlan, they like their work. According to Payscale, personal assistants (PAs) view their employment as extremely rewarding 78 percent of the time, and 83 percent feel the work is highly significant.

Payscale and the OOH provide estimates of the median wage for a physician assistant that are quite different from one another. According to Payscale, it is $88,100, although the OOH states that it is $112,260. The Office of Occupational Health also highlights that this is a professional sector that is expanding at an astounding rate; it forecasts that the field will expand by 31 percent over the next ten years, generating 39,300 new employment.

10. Guidance Counselors in Schools and Businesses

Students often benefit from having guidance from school and career counselors as they go through their academic careers and prepare to enter the workforce. There is some degree of duplication between the two jobs, and on occasion the same individual can perform both duties. However, in general, the primary focus of school counselors is on assisting students in the development of their academic and social skills, whereas the primary focus of career counselors is on assisting students in the discovery of a career path or an educational program that will lead to a career.

Both Payscale and MyPlan refer to people in this field as "educational, vocational, and career counselors" in their job descriptions. The customer satisfaction level at MyPlan now hovers around 80 percent on average. According to Payscale, it receives a score of 72 percent for high satisfaction while also receiving a score of 80 percent for high meaning.

The potential for profit in this industry is, on the other hand, not nearly as bright. According to the statistics provided by Payscale, counselors only receive a median annual pay of $40,800, which is lower than the threshold we use to determine what constitutes a living wage. On the other hand, according to the OOH, the median wages for this line of work are substantially greater, coming in at $57.040 per year. In addition, it forecasts a healthy increase in employment opportunities in this sector over the next decade of 8%, amounting to 26,800 additional positions.