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The Secrets Behind the Ten Happiest Jobs
Molly Mann | DivineCaroline
Now that I’ve graduated from college, non-specific degree in hand (what does one do with a BA in English?), the job hunt has begun. Looking around me, I see so many people who are unhappy with their jobs. Their days resemble a real-life version of Office Space, sans Jennifer Aniston; they sit in traffic, then they sit in a cubicle, then they sit in traffic again. If this is work, I want no part of it.
But there have to be some who really love their jobs, right? There must be those who don’t cringe when they hear the alarm go off on a Monday morning because they know they’re about to spend a week doing what fulfills them. I’ve heard of these people. I’ve never met any of them but, as with Santa Claus, I’m willing to believe they exist in order to preserve my optimism.
What Creates Job Happiness?
Everyone has a slightly different idea of what “success” is. Some won’t rest until they have several million in the bank, others prioritize family time, and still others crave public recognition for the jobs they do. Though we may think these things—money, fame, working from home, the office next to the coffee machine—will bring us happiness, they very often don’t. Actually, the ten happiest jobs in the United States, according to a 2008 study from the University of Chicago, “Job Satisfaction in the United States,” are all relatively low paying, with long hours and plenty of stress. And yet more than half of the people in these careers reported that they were “very happy” with their work.
Whistle While You Work
So what are the ten happiest jobs? The results of the study, according to payscale.com, are listed in order below, along with the median salary for each.
1. Clergy, median salary of $44,102
2. Firefighters, median salary of $45,553
3. Travel agents, median hourly wage of $14.23
4. Mechanics and repairmen, median hourly wage of $15.26
5. Architects, median salary of $54,079
6. Special Education teachers, median salaries of $41,344 for preschool through elementary teachers; $43,060 for high school teachers
7. Actors and directors, salary varies greatly
8. Scientific researchers, median salary of $72,435
9. Industrial engineers, median salary of $61,729
10. Airline pilots and navigators, median hourly wage of $63
For the most part, these are service jobs rather than professional jobs. Though some of them pay well, the jobs with the highest salaries are at the low end of the list. So what’s making these people so happy?

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about 1 month ago
1868 comments
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CarolTeresa
about 2 years ago
8 comments
This article is true statement about my husband. He worked as mechanic for years and loved it but he wanted more pay. Then he got a job that paid more but he was unhappy, I told him if he didn't want to stick to this clean job then go back to being a mechanic that we would survive. We did before. Money isn't happinest, if you don't like your job. Anyway he loves working with grease. I am proud of him.
eastbaysanfrancisco
over 2 years ago
6 comments
please excuse my mispellings below. i made many errors and did not go back to correct them. I would love it is someone out there sees my message below and has any input as to what i said. feel free to contact me at clstevens@sbcglobal.net
i live in the san francisco bay area and i am looking for some feedback as to what others think and feel. if i can help you figure out what your next job will be or how to get the resume looked at then i did something productive today. i know i am not going to sell a house today so why not help someone else who is going through what i am going through. maybe we can help each other.
eastbaysanfrancisco
over 2 years ago
6 comments
this is a time for a lot of us to think about what we really want for our next stage of life. i have gone from grocery stores, selling scientific supplies, to selling real estate.now i am thinking whats next. i loved what i did for each company but am ready for another change. not sure what that change is. life is about change. as we get older we have different needs for being happy. if we can all help each other find what our next lifes journey is that would be a beautiful thing. maybe talking to a friend or family member to help us figure out what is next or maybe writing all the ideas down on a piece of paper. i am almost 40 and still do not know what i wan to be when i grow up. thinking about getting a degree but not sure what in? i have managed to be happy at the jobs i take on but there are always changes that come with any job. it may be an a new ass for a boss, or some know it all loud slut sitting next to you. I even had a guy come to work and claim he was going to shoot everyone at a christmas party( i chose to skip that christmas party). when these things happen, I see them as the man upstairs (God) telling me it is time to find a new job and work somewhere else. so to all those people that are miserable with the psycho people around you. Maybe someone is telling you to change your life path. there are not tons of jobs so you need to find a job while you have a job. if you do not have a job you better have the best resume on the planet. I have been studying resume writing and am finding that you have to write a different resume for all the jobs you apply at so the computer picks you from the pile of applicants. i even thought of helping people to do this and getting paid for it. maybe this is my calling. maybe i need to show people how to get there resume chosen. do you think people would like some help with resume writing? maybe interview questions, dressing appropriately? I have hired people and not hired people, because of what to me is common knowledge of..... do not come to an interview with your boobs hanging out or with nails down to the floor like your going to dig a tunnel to china....... but i think some people need help. but do people want help? do people want someone who can be honest and say what is wrong with their appearance or can people take that their resume screams pushy car salesman when it could be saying i have skills to sell a product and build a base of loyal buyers without bringing up the fact they have been selling cars for the last 10 years. even us real estate agents may need to take the word Realtor off our resume because people hate us. we have a huge set of skills that can be portrayed to sell us to new employers if we want to get out of the real estate industry and change careers. i saw one company wanting to charge people 400 for a professional resume to written, if someone does not have a job how are they ever going to afford that rediculous price and they are not even getting help with interview prep and dress.
Account Removed
over 2 years ago
It's tough to have it both ways. You start out with this:
Looking around me, I see so many people who are unhappy with their jobs. Their days resemble a real-life version of Office Space, sans Jennifer Aniston; they sit in traffic, then they sit in a cubicle, then they sit in traffic again. If this is work, I want no part of it.
Then you conclude with this:
At this point, I’d really just like any job at all. And I know I’m not alone. Maybe it’s the unemployment talking, but I think that whatever job I do get will make me happy in some way, even if it’s just by allowing me to pay my bills. Every job has its pros and cons; that’s why we call it “work.”
Sometimes finding that job that allows you to pay the bills lands you in the traffic-cube-traffic routine that sounds so awful.
Beth1964
over 2 years ago
24 comments
There may be happiness found in more jobs than those listed in the study. I find happiness in my job by using my strengths and finding ways to add my interests to my job. In areas of weakness, I work with other colleagues to get the tasks accomplished. For example I enjoy giving presentations about professional development, so I convinced the powers that be that our company would benefit from professional development presentations, and I added something I enjoy to my job responsibilities. The plus is I am learning and teaching as I learn. I think more of us have service jobs than we think. Job happiness may have more to do with prespective.
StefF
over 2 years ago
86 comments
I love the paragraph: "At this point, I’d really just like any job at all. And I know I’m not alone. Maybe it’s the unemployment talking, but I think that whatever job I do get will make me happy in some way, even if it’s just by allowing me to pay my bills. Every job has its pros and cons; that’s why we call it “work.” You just have to find what makes you happy about the work you do." If only I could find a job that makes me happy... I did have a job I liked for a while, but when the new manager came in, things went downhill fast. I transferred to another department, and things went well there for a while, then a person who seemed to think she was the greatest thing since sliced bread started, and it got to be a chore going to work. I was looking for another job when I got laid off, but I'm ready for someone to hire me. Or at least get my business off the ground and find clients.