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schizorabbit
11-10-2008, 12:10 PM
I just got off the phone with my baby's momma, who's a private school teacher. She told me she had a good Monday, and I, who took today off, said that I think I'm not made for "working," and that I'm pretty sure that God has other plans for me than working or he wouldn't have made me genetically lazy. I then saw this article, and tried to imagine myself doing one of 'em. Anybody see their job in the list?

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-where_do_america_s_happiest_people_work-569;_ylc=X3oDMTE5YjNiaWdhBHRtX2RtZWNoA0JpekRldiAvI FBhcnRuZXIEdG1fbG5rA1UxMTAxNzAx


Where Do America's Happiest People Work?
by Kristina Cowan, PayScale.com

Career isn't the only factor in determining someone's overall happiness, but it's certainly a major contributor. So, what kind of jobs do the happiest people in the U.S. have? And, what about these jobs contributes to overall happiness in life? A University of Chicago study, "Job Satisfaction in the United States," offers some insight.

The study says the occupations where people report being happy overall, not just in terms of job satisfaction, involve helping others, technical and scientific expertise, or creativity.

Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center at UC, elaborates: "Happiness is determined by how much satisfaction you get from all domains of life, and work is an important domain, so it's one of the major components of overall happiness."

According to the study, the top occupations in general happiness are:

1. Clergy
Job Description: Conduct religious worship and perform spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination.

Very happy: 67.2%
Median salary*: $44,102

2. Firefighters
Job Description: Control and extinguish fires, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.

Very happy: 57.2%
Median salary: $45,553

3. Transportation, ticket, and reservation agents such as travel agents
Job Description: Travel agents plan and sell transportation and accommodations for travel agency customers.

Very happy: 56.5%
Median hourly rate (travel agents): $14.23

4. Architects
Job Description: Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.

Very happy: 53.5%
Median salary: $54,079

5. Special education teachers
Job Description: Teach school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students.

Very happy: 52.6%
Median salary (preschool, kindergarten or elementary school): $41,344
Median salary (secondary school): $43,060

6. Actors and directors
Job Description: Actors play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or motion picture productions for entertainment, information, or instruction.

Very happy: 51.0%
Salary varies greatly

7. Science technicians
Job Description: Use principles and theories of science and mathematics to solve problems in research and development, and to help invent and improve products and processes.

Very happy: 51.0%
Median salary (research scientists): $72,435

8. Miscellaneous mechanical and repairing occupations
Job Description: Automotive service technicians and mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

Very happy: 53.6%**
Median hourly rate (mechanics/auto tune up): $15.26

9. Industrial engineers
Job Description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.

Very happy: 48.4%
Median salary: $61,729

10. Airline pilots and navigators
Job Description: Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pilot and navigate the flight of multi-engine aircraft in regularly scheduled service for transport of passengers and cargo.

Very happy: 49.1%
Median hourly rate (airline pilots, copilots, or flight engineers): $63

Evan the Shaggy
11-10-2008, 12:12 PM
Travel agents? Seriously?

bachman
11-10-2008, 12:14 PM
I didn't know firefighters could actually "control" fire, wow. I wanna do that.

schizorabbit
11-10-2008, 12:14 PM
Travel agents? Seriously?

Holy shit, #3. *scratches head* Maybe the field attracts naturally brainwash-like happy people who like to be surrounded by cheesy posters with palm trees and cruise ships on 'em.

Ben
11-10-2008, 12:17 PM
Ignorance is bliss!

NickT
11-10-2008, 12:17 PM
I didn't know firefighters could actually "control" fire, wow. I wanna do that.
No wonder they are so happy!

Akira
11-10-2008, 12:18 PM
Holy shit, #3. *scratches head* Maybe the field attracts naturally brainwash-like happy people who like to be surrounded by cheesy posters with palm trees and cruise ships on 'em.

I'm sure they get f'ing ridiculous perks.

JHester
11-10-2008, 12:20 PM
My current job is not on there but I am in school now to get on the fire department in May.

Mylazycat
11-10-2008, 12:21 PM
I'm sure they get f'ing ridiculous perks.

They get to travel free to various vacation spots to check them out so they can know what the clients are talking about, as well as give first hand experiences. "Oh, I've been there, it's beautiful," ect.

Evan the Shaggy
11-10-2008, 12:21 PM
No wonder they are so happy!

Pyro never seemed to happy.

Lyfeforce
11-10-2008, 12:22 PM
Travel agents? Seriously?

I have not yet met one happy travel agent.

Just ones amped up on Red Bull and corporate BS.

Ryan Elliott
11-10-2008, 12:23 PM
My pants.

shoelaceless
11-10-2008, 12:25 PM
Travel agents? Seriously?

Haven't you ever played LIFE? Those guys have squares all over the board.

Wigner's Friend
11-10-2008, 01:15 PM
Here's a pdf link (http://www.norc.org/NR/rdonlyres/2874B40B-7C50-4F67-A6B2-26BD3B06EA04/0/JobSatisfactionintheUnitedStates.pdf) for the whole study. I just like that Amusement Attendants are among the most depressed.

Whip
11-10-2008, 01:34 PM
Here's a pdf link (http://www.norc.org/NR/rdonlyres/2874B40B-7C50-4F67-A6B2-26BD3B06EA04/0/JobSatisfactionintheUnitedStates.pdf) for the whole study. I just like that Amusement Attendants are among the most depressed.

That's not surprising. Your job is to watch other people have fun.

stevapalooza
11-10-2008, 01:39 PM
Of course clergymen are happy. They don't have to do any actual work and the boss lives in the sky.

The Crushtacean
11-10-2008, 01:42 PM
Of course clergymen are happy. They don't have to do any actual work and the boss lives in the sky.

:rofl:

Donal DeLay
11-10-2008, 08:11 PM
Pixar.

At least that where I need to work to be one of the happiest people on Earth. I'd never complain about a damn thing.

atomeve
11-10-2008, 08:19 PM
My job isn't on there. I'm a chiropractor's assistant. My job is awesome in the fact that I get to see people getting better, but I dislike the people who come to the office to get help but then don't want to put in the work to get better. But I will say I am happy 90% of the time. And it also helps that I can get adjusted regularly. :)

Patch
11-11-2008, 05:44 AM
Illustrator
Job description: Drawing and designing artwork, primarily for publication*
Very happy: 77%
Median salary: varies




* that is, when not totally goofin' off