PayScale.com, the world’s largest crowdsourced salary database, released today a study on how different kinds of employees feel about their jobs. The data is broken down to show the Most Meaningful Jobs, the Least Meaningful Jobs as well as Jobs that Make the World a Worse Place.
Most Meaningful Jobs
The jobs where the highest percentage of workers answered “Very much so” or “Yes” to the question, “Does your job make the world a better place?”
Rank | Job Categories (Breadth 30) | Median Pay | Percent High Meaning | Percent High Satisfaction |
1 | Clergy | $46,600 | 98% | 90% |
2- tie | English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $43,600 | 96% | 74% |
2- tie | Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $37,600 | 96% | 84% |
2- tie | Surgeons | $304,000 | 96% | 83% |
5 | Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School | $76,700 | 95% | 88% |
6 | Radiation Therapists | $70,200 | 93% | 86% |
7 – tie | Chiropractors | $60,100 | 92% | 70% |
7 – tie | Psychiatrists | $197,000 | 92% | 85% |
9 – tie | Anesthesiologists | $273,000 | 91% | 83% |
9 – tie | Rehabilitation Counselors | $39,100 | 91% | 74% |
9 – tie | Occupational Therapists | $64,400 | 91% | 77% |
9 – tie | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $39,000 | 91% | 81% |
9 – tie | Epidemiologists | $69,000 | 91% | 77% |
Least Meaningful Jobs
The jobs where the lowest percentage of workers answered “Very much so” or “Yes” to the question, “Does your job make the world a better place?”
Job Categories (Breadth 30) | Median Pay | Percent High Meaning | Percent High Satisfaction |
Parking Lot Attendants | $19,700 | 5% | 41% |
Gaming Supervisors | $46,400 | 20% | 77% |
Prepress Technicians and Workers | $38,300 | 25% | 51% |
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $32,700 | 25% | 70% |
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $52,900 | 25% | 50% |
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,200 | 26% | 63% |
Counter and Rental Clerks | $26,500 | 26% | 43% |
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,000 | 26% | 41% |
Purchasing Agents and Buyers, Farm Products | $40,600 | 26% | 52% |
Fashion Designers | $50,700 | 26% | 58% |
Jobs That Make The World Worse
The jobs where the highest percentage of workers answered “My job makes the world a worse place” to the question, “Does your work make the world a better place?”
Rank | Job Title | % who answer “My Job Makes the World a Worse Place” | Median Salary |
1 | Fast Food Worker | 25% | $16,700 |
2 | Picker | 21% | $24,800 |
3 | Table Games Floor Supervisor | 20% | $50,900 |
4 – tie | Merchandise Planning Manager | 18% | $94,400 |
4 – tie | Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Strategist | 18% | $52,300 |
4 – tie | Valet | 18% | $21,900 |
7 | Paralegal or Legal Assistant | 16% | $40,000 |
8 – tie | Laundry Attendant | 14% | $18,600 |
8 – tie | Garbage Truck Driver | 14% | $36,600 |
9 – tie | Photographer, Commercial | 13% | $45,200 |
9 – tie | Cash Posting Clerk | 13% | $31,300 |
9 – tie | Financial Sales Consultant | 13% | $32,600 |