September 5, 2022.
50 most meaningful jobs in America.
#50. Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education.
- High meaning: 84%
- High satisfaction: 72%
#49. Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education.
- High meaning: 84%
- High satisfaction: 76%
#48. Medical and health services managers.
- High meaning: 84%
- High satisfaction: 81%
#47. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#46. Recreation workers.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 76%
#45. Child, family, and school social workers.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 65%
#44. First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 82%
#43. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#42. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors.
- Median pay: $39,800
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 71%
#41. Veterinarians.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 70%
#40. Orthotists and prosthetists.
- High meaning: 85%
- High satisfaction: 79%
#39. Physical therapist aides.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#38. Military enlisted tactical operations and air/weapons specialists and crew members, all other.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 68%
#37. Marriage and family therapists.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 75%
#36. Optometrists.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 81%
#35. Dentists, general.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 82%
#34. Physical therapist assistants.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 82%
#33. Occupational therapist assistants.
- High meaning: 86%
- High satisfaction: 81%
#32. Recreational Therapists.
- High meaning: 87%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#31. Funeral directors.
- High meaning: 87%
- High satisfaction: 68%
#30. Health educators.
- High meaning: 87%
- High satisfaction: 75%
#29. Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators.
- High meaning: 87%
- High satisfaction: 72%
#28. Health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other.*
- High meaning: 87%
- High satisfaction: 81%
*This category includes all health practitioners not included in other categories, such as acupuncturists, naturopathic physicians, and orthoptists.
#27. Audiologists.
- High meaning: 88%
- High satisfaction: 72%
#26. Fire fighters.
- High meaning: 88%
- High satisfaction: 83%
#25. Music directors and composers.
- High meaning: 88%
- High satisfaction: 80%
#24. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.
- High meaning: 88%
- High satisfaction: 78%
#23. Pediatricians, general.
- High meaning: 88%
- High satisfaction: 89%
#22. Mental health counselors.
- High meaning: 89%
- High satisfaction: 70%
#21. Physicians and surgeons, all other.
- High meaning: 89%
- High satisfaction: 80%
#20. Education administrators, preschool, and child care center/program.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 81%
#19. Physical therapists.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 79%
#18. First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 85%
#17. Medical appliance technicians.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 78%
#16. Family and general practitioners.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 78%
#15. Counselors, all other.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 77%
#14. Speech-language pathologists.
- High meaning: 90%
- High satisfaction: 79%
#13. Epidemiologists.
- High meaning: 91%
- High satisfaction: 77%
#12. Kindergarten teachers, except special education.
- High meaning: 91%
- High satisfaction: 81%
#11. Occupational therapists.
- High meaning: 91%
- High satisfaction: 77%
#10. Rehabilitation counselors.
- High meaning: 91%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#9. Anesthesiologists.
- High meaning: 91%
- High satisfaction: 83%
#8. Psychiatrists.
- High meaning: 92%
- High satisfaction: 85%
#7. Chiropractors.
- High meaning: 92%
- High satisfaction: 70%
#6. Radiation therapists.
- High meaning: 93%
- High satisfaction: 86%
#5. Education administrators, elementary and secondary school.
- High meaning: 95%
- High satisfaction: 88%
#4. Directors, religious activities and education.
- High meaning: 96%
- High satisfaction: 84%
#3. Surgeons.
- High meaning: 96%
- High satisfaction: 83%
#2. English language and literature teachers, post-secondary.
- High meaning: 96%
- High satisfaction: 74%
#1. Clergy.
- High meaning: 98%
- High satisfaction: 90%
#Two data metrics compiled by PayScale to find out which jobs are the most meaningful.
