The Happiest Jobs + How to Find Them

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He’d say that if you have two or three of these aligned with your inner desires, you’re likely to be pretty happy. If you have all four aligned, then, well, soak it up, as you’re probably feeling true contentment. 

Of course, I don’t know how true this argument is on a scientific basis, but I don’t think it’s too broad of an assumption to say that we’re all seeking contentment or happiness in just about every area of our lives. I know I am, at least. 

And while I’m certainly not here to give you a dad-style lecture, I think it’s worth considering that your contentment at work plays a big factor in your overall sense of happiness. Lots of studies show that your happiness level at work reaches other aspects of your lives. 

How Can I Be Happy at Work?

Happiness at work is kind of a tricky subject, because it’s subjective. What I consider to feel like happiness might not align with what you consider to feel like happiness. What brings me joy might not be what brings you joy. What really is happiness anyway? And how do you even measure it since it’s a feeling?

Happiness is so subjective that it’s hard to say that any specific jobs are the “happiest.” There are, however, a few that pop up on just about all of the “happiest job” lists out there—those jobs that employees continually rank their happiness levels as high and say they feel the most stability and contentment in their roles.

It’s interesting to look at those positions, and it’s helpful to hone in on what they all have in common so that we can apply those happiness factors to our own careers.

But first, let’s talk about happiness in general. How do we determine what makes us happy at work? And how do we find a job that we’ll genuinely enjoy—one that won’t make us unhappy?

Happiness Is All Important

Let’s start with what we know for sure. Job satisfaction directly affects your overall health and sense of well-being. 

We spend so much time working that it’s inevitable that the way you feel about your job impacts you when you’re not at work.

Most of us have experienced that sense of impending doom on a Sunday evening when you envision starting a new week at a job you don’t like (or that you actively hate). And we’ve hopefully all felt the sense of peace—or even excitement—that comes from working in a role or on a project you enjoy. 

There’s actually some science to back up the importance that work contentment has on your health. Working in a job that you dread or that you strongly dislike can keep you in a sustained state of “fight or flight” mode, where your adrenaline levels are elevated for long periods of time.

This can be tough on your body, as it affects your sleep, your mood, and your overall health. Living with this kind of stress due to work isn’t sustainable. 

This brings us to burnout. Burnout is a true health condition, according to the WHO, that “can manifest itself through exhaustion, headaches, elevated feelings of cynicism related to a job, and reduced professional productivity.” It’s a condition that is caused by sustained overwhelm that can affect your mental health, physical health, and your happiness levels. 

All of this to say: it’s important to feel satisfied with your job. We all have off days or rough weeks, but it’s not a good thing to actively dread your work for long periods of time. 

A caveat before we go further: we’re living in super stressful times right now. Remote work, dealing with childcare issues, and then general “normal” work stresses on top of it all can take a toll on us. It’s hard to find time for true downtime—time for our bodies and minds to rest and recover. If you’re not feeling super happy at work (or in life!) right now, you are not alone.

Disclaimer: We are not doctors at Career Contessa. If you are feeling depressed or super overwhelmed, SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) is a great resource. Their number is 1-800-662-4357.

Now, let’s talk about how to measure happiness.

How Do You Measure Happiness?

Happiness is kind of slippery. What I consider happiness might not be what my best friend considers happiness. We may feel happiness in a relationship at a given point but not feel happiness when it comes to work at the same time.

Or we might feel happiness at work but not feel happiness in our personal lives or feel that, to use my dad’s words, we get enough time to “play.” 

It’s hard to measure happiness.

There have been all kinds of studies that investigate how work impacts happiness. On a macro level, having enough jobs for everyone increases the happiness levels of society overall. 

Arthur Brooks points out in this salient piece in The Atlantic that having a job period makes people happier. He found that “American adults who reported that they were ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ likely to lose their job in 2018 were more than three times more likely to say they were ‘not too happy’ with their life than people who felt they were ‘not likely’ to be let go."

Perhaps this is common sense; after all, we rely on our jobs for basic living necessities—and any job that provides food and shelter decreases the stress of worrying about those things. 

We know that it’s important to have a job that provides our basic needs.

What about jobs that allow you to make a lot of money? Is compensation or a huge raise correlated with higher happiness levels? Our research says yes…but also no. Brooks notes that “wage increases raise job satisfaction, but only in the short term. The effect decays quickly as time passes. In all careers, regular wage increases are better for happiness than infrequent, larger raises.” 

So, money helps and can give you a quick happiness boost, but it’s not the aspect of work that makes you feel content day after day, week after week. 

I read this piece from NPR a few years ago, and it has stuck with me. In it, the authors try to measure happiness through a comparison study.

Essentially, they asked participants to purchase physical items they’d like and rate their happiness levels (on a scale of 1 to 10) and then purchase services for chores they didn’t enjoy and rate their happiness levels. What they found was that the people who had purchased “time” saw increased happiness levels. On the other hand, buying physical items didn’t move their scales much, if at all. 

It's clear that money isn’t necessarily the best measure of happiness. What researchers say really matters with regard to happiness at work comes down to two things: the ability to learn and the ability to feel like you’re bettering the world. 

We all (of course!) have different interests, different beliefs, different values, different talents. Finding a job that aligns with your priorities and interests is a key part of this whole happiness thing. 

How to Find a Fulfilling and Satisfying Career 

Career Contessa’s founder Lauren McGoodwin started off this year with an important argument: let’s do away with the notion of the “dream" job and move toward the idea of the “good enough” job. 

What does this mean exactly? We’ve all been told to “follow our passions” and “pursue our dreams” to the point of feeling like we need to monetize our hobbies and side-hustle ourselves to exhaustion.

This kind of “dream job”-thinking is arguably what can make us feel that sense of doom and gloom about our current roles: if we’re not doing *exactly* what we “love” for work, then are we failing? 

Our answer: absolutely not. 

Rather, we think it’s important to find a job that feels aligned with your values, one that gives you that intrinsically rewarding feeling when you know your work actually matters.

The “good enough" job argument aligns almost perfectly with Brooks’s argument: finding a company culture that fits your values, provides growth opportunities to hone new skills, and gives you the chance to be of service is what actually increases your work happiness. 

This begs the question: How in the world do we find the "good enough" job? We think it’s important to really know-know what’s important to you. Is it growth? Is it reliable and honest feedback? Is it the opportunity to maintain a great work-life balance? Is it a happy workplace? Is it flexing your strategy muscles? Is it working for a nonprofit? Is it a clear path for upward mobility? 

Then, consider what you’re good at. Are you an extroverted people-person who would thrive in a customer-facing role? Are you a writer who would thrive in a communications position? Are you a natural empath who can naturally “read” others? 

It can be hard not to simply go for the job at the ultra-cool startup. Or the one that has a fancy title and pays a big salary.

We recommend instead focusing on your values and your talents and considering roles and industries that would meet most (if not all) of your personal requirements. Brainstorm positions that would allow you to share your talents and grow—not those in which you would like your title but not your work. If you’re doing those things, you’re likely to feel an overall sense of contentment with your career.

The Happiest Careers in 2022

We talked about how happiness is subjective. This means that these roles, while listed as “happiest careers,” may not be the happiest jobs for you. For example, being a web developer or an athletic trainer would decidedly not make me happy.

I would not even know where to start with either of those positions. And my best friend, a speech pathologist, says she could *never* write essays for work, which is a big part of my role. 

With that caveat, these roles are the ones that consistently show up on “happiest jobs” lists. They’re random and stretch across all industries and titles, but they have a few key things in common: Most all of them offer great job stability, the opportunity for growth, and the ability to help others in some way. 

Note: we took the salary information for the roles listed from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Happiest Medical Jobs

It’s probably unsurprising that many of the happiest jobs are those in the medical field. These jobs allow employees to help people day after day, and often to see the immediate results of their actions.

While the stress and trauma of the pandemic have caused these job satisfaction rates to decline over the last couple of years, in general, these roles are rated as happy ones. 

Medical Technologist

Medical technologists work in clinics, hospitals, and labs, where they help to collect and analyze samples for medical testing. 

Average Salary: $54,180

Occupational Therapy Assistant

It’s easy to imagine why working as an occupational therapy assistant might increase happiness levels. Helping people who have been injured or those who are experiencing chronic pain improve their quality of life has to be rewarding. 

Average Salary: $60,950

Athletic Trainer

There’s a reason the athletic trainers in movies and t.v. shows are stereotypically upbeat. Another job that directly impacts people, athletic training helps people learn to exercise and reach specific goals. It has to be meaningful to be part of that.

Average Salary: $49,860

Physical Therapist 

Unsurprisingly, physical therapists make the list. Like occupational therapy, this career provides the opportunity to help others recover from injury or work through debilitating pain. Plus, the work hours are likely to be more “normal” than some other medical professions. 

Average Salary: $91,010

Psychologist

This one took me by surprise, as I always imagined it would be draining for psychologists to listen to people’s traumas, fears, and histories day in and day out. However, it must be rewarding to help others internally process, learn coping mechanisms, examine behaviors, and just generally feel mentally healthier.

Average Salary: $82,180

Happiest Tech Jobs

Technology jobs generally provide flexible work environments. They also offer a medium in which to be creative or to play a part in building something that others will use or enjoy. These tech jobs are generally considered to be the happiest. 

Web Developer

Web developers build and maintain websites, so web developers get the satisfaction of flexing their creativity muscles and building something that matters. We can see why this role is usually a happy one. 

Average Salary: $77,200

Data Scientist

If you’re analytical and strategic, data science may bring you contentment at work. Plus, it’s a role that can be performed remotely and for a variety of clients or business, so there’s the opportunity for variety and flexibility. 

Average Salary: $103,930

Software Developer and Quality Analyst

Another flexible tech role that’s needed across industries, software development jobs continually make “happiest jobs” lists. Plus, their higher-than-average job growth rate means that you’re looking at job security as well. 

Average Salary: $110,140

Happiest Public Service Jobs

Since we know that servitude is one of the pillars of happiness at work, it’s not surprising that public service jobs tend to make feel content. Most of these roles are people-centric positions that allow employees to feel needed—and that they’re directly impacting the greater good. 

Firefighter

Firefighting obviously requires stamina, bravery, and both physical and mental strength. Firefighters constantly help people in a myriad of ways—and they feel fulfillment from doing so. 

Average Salary: $52,500

Education Administrator

Similar to teachers, education administrators get to work with students, and they provide a lift for the teachers and principal in their schools as well. This ability to directly help others is what makes this role one of the happiest.

Average Salary: $103,010

Teacher

Teaching is arguably one of the most fulfilling jobs out there—and it’s one that lets you work one-on-one with students to help them learn and grow. I’d bet that most all of us can remember how a loving, warm-hearted teacher made us feel. They impact lives. 

Average Salary: $60,660

Social Worker

Few other jobs directly affect children and families in need. Social workers are typically empathetic problem-solvers who help others’ lives.

Average Salary: $51,760

Happiest Creative Jobs

One common “happiest jobs” thread is the opportunity to be creative at work. And while many of the roles below are the stereotypical “creative” jobs, you can infuse creativity into any kind of work. Here are the happiest creative jobs out there. 

Author

Being an author doesn’t necessarily mean being an award-winning novelist. Rather, writing in general is a creative process, as you’re working to communicate with others through tone, voice, rhetorical devices, and more. Writers tend to have flexible schedules and the chance to regularly use their talents. 

Average Salary: $67,120

Painter or Sculptor

Painting and sculpting have to be some of the most creative jobs out there. Painters and sculptors often work from home or from studios, where they’re free to express themselves through their work. That doesn’t mean being a solo artist is the only possibility if you’re a painter. Any illustration job ranks high in happiness. 

Average Salary: $65,020

Designer

Design comes in a variety of forms these days. From creative design to graphic design to interior design, this industry emphasizes imagination. 

Average Salary: $53,380

Music Director or Composer

It’s not hard to imagine why music direction and composition makes “happiest jobs” lists. If you like music at all, you can recognize that it creates a visceral reaction for listeners, and we’d have to imagine the same thing happens when you direct or compose music—and when you get to share your creation with others.

Average Salary: $52,250

Photographer

Family photographers tend to take photos for people during their happiest moments: engagements, weddings, births, and holidays. Photo journalists know that their images will share truth about what’s happening in any given situation. All of that to say: photography is something that genuinely matters, and it's why photographers feel satisfaction in their work.

Average Salary: $50,290

Happiest “People-Centric” Jobs

We know that people-centric roles are not right for all of us (right, fellow introverts?). But we also know that the roles that allow our extroverted friends to interact with—and help—others are the ones that are consistently ranked happiest. The following are a few notable roles that allow you to work with and for others.

Clergy

Clergy members find a lot of intrinsic value in their roles. Whether they’re providing religious services or helping connect people, this role encourages togetherness. 

Average Salary: $55,190

Office Supervisor

We’ve all worked with those office supervisors who are just awesome. The ones who remember every birthday. The ones who know when someone has lost a pet or is going through a tough time. The ones who always know where the extra highlighters are. The ones whose smiles brighten the office as a whole. Office supervisors report high levels of happiness at work.

Average Salary: $62,010

Operating Engineers

Almost all construction jobs (think contractors and construction managers) rank high in happiness. Why? We think it’s because of the combination of camaraderie and social interaction, working in the great outdoors, and the ability to build something meaningful. 

Average Salary: $55,280

Other Happy Jobs

Not every happy job fits neatly into a category. In fact, there are happy jobs across every industry. Here are a few other jobs that rank high in contentment that might interest you. 

Veterinarian 

A job that allows you to help take care of pets? We’ve got nothing to add here.

Average Salary: $99,250

Researcher

Whether the research involves conducting surveys, locating data for a writer, or fact-checking, this role requires expertise in digging deep that is satisfying to many.

Average Salary: $59,870

Where the Happiest Jobs Are

While the location of the job is less important than the work itself, MoneyPenny polled workers in the United States to get a feel for which locations had the highest job satisfaction. They found these states to have the happiest jobs: 

The Happiest Jobs for the Decade Ahead

Most of the jobs we outlined above consistently appear on “happiest job” roundups. That said, it’s helpful to think about the type of work that might make us the most satisfied in the future.

The jobs that are growing at high rates and that provide opportunities for growth are the ones to keep watch for. The workforce is changing, and we now value a flexible work environment more than ever before. According to the poll we cited above, these roles are the ones that strike a balance between all of these criteria.