10 Careers That Could Make You Happier

Jobs get a lot of flack. And it’s not just employees who are grumbling about their daily grind — researchers continuously report findings that our nine-to-fives are harming our health. Long commutes, overbearing bosses, even annoying co-workers have been proven to make stress levels snowball, which in turn increases the risk for depression, sleep problems, and more.
In truth, having a job can come with health benefits, too (and we’re not just talking dental insurance and 401(k) plans). According to the Longevity Project, a recent long-term study, participants who were the most committed to their jobs and worked the hardest actually ended up living longer. What’s the key? Loving what you do for a living! But since the working world can be a hard one to navigate, we’ve done a little work for you: Here are the top 10 career choices that make for the happiest, healthiest employees.

Clergymen (and Women): Practice What You Preach

The most satisfying occupation in America? According to the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, this title belongs to the clergyman. The poll, known as the General Social Survey (GSS), is the nation’s most comprehensive survey of the best jobs out there — and its most recent findings show that 87 percent of people who work as spiritual caregivers report being very satisfied with their work (that’s seven percentage points higher than any other group in the survey). Why? Careers that involve teaching, caring for, or protecting others tend to have positive emotional impacts on the employees, too.

Firefighters: Ditch the Desk-Job Doldrums

You may not think that a dangerous line of work like firefighting would be one of the most satisfying occupations. But according to GSS, 80 percent of firefighters love their job! In fact, another study, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), found that protective service jobs like firefighting come with a very low risk for depression. Overall, helping others for a profession tends to be one big emotional health booster.

Psychologists: Make People Happier (You Included)

According to a recent study published in the journal Perspectives of Psychological Science, the salary outlook for psychology majors is a bit bleak. However, a profession in psychology tends to boast low rates of depression, and it gets high marks on the satisfying-occupation meter. According to NSDUH, the average full-time worker’s yearly risk of depression symptoms is about 7 percent, but social science professionals like psychologists have only a 4.4 percent risk. Psychologists also ranked high on the GSS poll, with 67 percent saying they have a very satisfying career.

Teachers: Open Others' Eyes

About 70 percent of teachers and education administrators say that their careers are very satisfying, according to the GSS poll. But a career in education is not for everyone — in fact, teachers actually score higher than average when it comes to depression risk. What’s the disconnect? While teaching can be very rewarding, it can also be very demanding, and teachers’ salaries tend to rank low.

Doctors: Make it Stop Hurting

According to a recent Gallup poll, 79 percent of well-paid professionals like doctors say that they have satisfying occupations. Gallup also found that having a household income above $120,000 went a long way toward thinking you’ve got a great job. But while being a health care professional can be rewarding both financially and emotionally, it can also take an emotional toll: Health care employees also score higher than average for depression.

Maintenance Workers: Be Mr. (or Ms.) Fix-It

An amped-up salary doesn’t always guarantee good emotional health, according to a recent study by two Princeton professors. They found that once your household income reaches a comfortable level — in this case, $75,000 — money doesn’t buy happiness. Americans with careers in installation and repair don't usually show up on the highest-salary lists, but they do have one of the lowest risks for depression on the NSDUH list and, according to Gallup, 73 percent of them say they have the best job out there.

Business Owners: Be Your Own Boss

Which career choice gives you the freedom to make your own decisions, job security, and the potential to make a lot of money? Owning your own business, which came in at the top of the Gallup poll of satisfying occupations. According to Gallup, a whopping 87 percent of business owners said they have the ideal job. One factor that could play a part here is age — business owners tend to be older, and the Gallup poll shows that job satisfaction increases with age.

Outdoor Occupations: Go Al Fresco

There must be something about fresh air that’s especially good for emotional health. According to the Gallup poll, 82 percent of people who work in farming, forestry, and fishing say that their job is ideal for them. The same group’s annual risk for depressionis only 5.6 percent, well below the national average for full-time workers (7 percent). For these employees, being out on the open sea, connected to the land, or working in a forest offers a higher degree of emotional health than any office work could offer.

Creative Careers: Get Crafty

Got a talent? Then do something with it — research shows that creating something of value for your living can work miracles for your emotional health. According to the GSS, 74 percent of writers, 67 percent of sculptors, and 67 percent of painters say they are very satisfied with their jobs. What’s so great about creative careers? Having the freedom to express yourself can be an emotional outlet (and you can make money while you do it!).

Engineers and Architects: Make a Plan

Engineers and architects also use put their creative talents to good use — and that helps land these professions at the bottom of the NSDUH depression risk list. While there is no such thing as “the best job,” there is certainly a best job for you. Just follow the No. 1 secret of happy employees: Do something you love that benefits others.