Who has the happiest, least stressful, most meaningful job in America? (2024)

Nathan Wild

According to an analysis of more than 13,000 time journals from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey, farmers ranked for having the highest levels of self-reported happiness -- and the lowest levels of self-reported stress along with loggers and foresters.

Being a farmer I can attest to these results. As someone who has had many different jobs, being a farmer has been the most rewarding. Here is my theories as to why that is:

For one, I get to work outside almost every day. By being outside for many hours per week I get to fully experience the elements and the seasons. The rain, the winds, the heat and the cold. I get to know the local wildlife who lives around us. Like the two great blue herons fly overhead in the mornings. Or the geese that swim in our pound. Or the worms, beetles and spiders that live in our soil. I can work barefoot and feel the earth on my feet if I feel like it. And I get to breathe fresh air and work under the sun's light.

Growing nutritious food for your community and stewarding land gives you an immense feeling of purpose. You're not just working for a pay check. You're working for the greater good.

It's tough. You never know what the next challenge will be. There's no set routine. Things are always changing. You have to keep your wits about you. It can be stressful but I think a healthy amount of stress is good for the soul. Too much stress can be detrimental. But too little can become mind numbingly mundane.

I hope information like this shows people that farming is a career worth considering. Our food systems is in desperate need of an update. And without a new generation of young farmers a transition to an ethical and sustainable food system will never happen.

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Who has the happiest, least stressful, most meaningful job in America? (2024)

FAQs

Who has the happiest, least stressful, most meaningful job in America? ›

Agriculture, logging and forestry have the highest levels of self-reported happiness— and lowest levels of self-reported stress—of any major industry category, according to our analysis of…the Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey.”

What is the happiest and least stressful job in the US? ›

Nathan Wild Nov 29, 2023. According to an analysis of more than 13,000 time journals from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey, farmers ranked for having the highest levels of self-reported happiness -- and the lowest levels of self-reported stress along with loggers and foresters.

What is the happiest job in the United States? ›

20 of the happiest jobs
  1. Early childhood education teacher. ...
  2. Sound engineering technician. ...
  3. Event planner. ...
  4. Plumber. ...
  5. General manager. ...
  6. Carpenter. ...
  7. Esthetician. ...
  8. Interior designer.
Apr 18, 2024

Who is happiest at work? ›

Hybrid and remote workers are among the happiest in the Conference Board's survey. In 2023, 65.5% of hybrid workers reported overall job satisfaction, which was slightly higher than 64.1% of fully remote workers. People who work full time on-site reported the lowest satisfaction, at 60.2%.

What career has the highest happiness? ›

Consider Healthcare Roles

Healthcare roles typically have high levels of satisfaction, especially based on their impact on people's health. Assistant Occupational Therapist – These professionals work alongside occupational therapists and help people regain physical capabilities.

What is the least stressful job in America? ›

15 of the least stressful jobs to consider
  • Massage therapist. ...
  • Biomedical engineer. ...
  • Law clerk. ...
  • Art director. ...
  • Technical writer. ...
  • Real estate appraiser. National average salary: $63,355 per year. ...
  • Dental hygienist. National average salary: $74,321 per year. ...
  • Librarian. National average salary: $56,415 per year.
Apr 18, 2024

What is the least happiest career? ›

10 Careers Reporting the Lowest Levels of Happiness
  • Pharmacy technician. This job involves working in a pharmacy, locating, packing, and labeling patient medications. ...
  • Project engineer. ...
  • Teacher. ...
  • Administrative assistant. ...
  • Cashier. ...
  • General manager. ...
  • Data analyst. ...
  • Customer service representative.
Jan 10, 2024

What job is the least stressful? ›

Some low-stress jobs come with good to excellent annual salaries.
  1. 14 Low-Stress Jobs. In its annual report, CareerCast considered 11 stress factors when ranking the jobs. ...
  2. Data Scientist. ...
  3. Dietitian. ...
  4. Medical Records Technician. ...
  5. Massage Therapist. ...
  6. Appliance Repairer. ...
  7. Librarian. ...
  8. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

What job has the lowest satisfaction rate? ›

Roofers, waiters, bartenders, and cashiers have low satisfaction. In the U.S., 65% of employees are satisfied with their jobs, with 20% being passionate about their jobs. There are hundreds of statistics out there.

What is the number 1 best job in America? ›

Get Matched!
  • Nurse Practitioner. #1 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Financial Manager. #2 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Software Developer. #3 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • IT Manager. #4 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Physician Assistant. #5 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Medical and Health Services Manager. #6 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Information Security Analyst. #7 in 100 Best Jobs. ...
  • Data Scientist.

What are the top 3 companies with the happiest workers? ›

The top three companies where people feel they're paid well — Workday, Boston Consulting Group and Uber — also have some of the happiest workers in general, according to Comparably data, which considers compensation as well as factors like work-life balance, alignment with company values, holistic benefits and others.

Who is the happiest man of all time? ›

Ricard was lightly dubbed “the happiest man alive,” after neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin scanned his brain during meditation and found the highest capacity for happiness ever recorded. As a trained scientist and Buddhist monk, he is uniquely positioned in the dialogue between East and West.

Who has the happiest life? ›

For the seventh year in a row, Finland has landed the top spot on the World Happiness Report's annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world.

Which profession has the best quality of life? ›

Here are 10 careers you can consider to achieve a better work–life balance:
  1. Personal Trainer. ...
  2. Freelance Copywriter. ...
  3. Dentist. ...
  4. Corporate Recruiter. ...
  5. Social Media Specialist. ...
  6. Teacher. ...
  7. Real Estate Agent. ...
  8. Makeup Artist.
Apr 18, 2024

Which profession has the highest burnout rate? ›

Every career has elements of burnout and stress; these are 12 that I find to be the most common.
  • Teachers and Educators. ...
  • Legal Professionals. ...
  • Customer Service Representatives. ...
  • Information Technology (IT) Workers. ...
  • Journalists and Media Personnel. ...
  • Financial Professionals. ...
  • Retail Workers. ...
  • Agricultural Workers.
Aug 11, 2023

What is the least stressful job that pays well? ›

17 low-stress high-paying jobs
  • Operations engineer. ...
  • Mathematician. ...
  • Information systems manager. ...
  • Actuary. ...
  • Software engineer. ...
  • Radiation therapist. ...
  • Dentist. ...
  • Optometrist.
Apr 18, 2024

What is the least stressful career? ›

Some low-stress jobs come with good to excellent annual salaries.
  1. 14 Low-Stress Jobs. In its annual report, CareerCast considered 11 stress factors when ranking the jobs. ...
  2. Data Scientist. ...
  3. Dietitian. ...
  4. Medical Records Technician. ...
  5. Massage Therapist. ...
  6. Appliance Repairer. ...
  7. Librarian. ...
  8. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

What is the happiest salary in the US? ›

What do studies say about money and happiness? Purdue University found the ideal average income for people worldwide is $95,000 and $105,000 in the U.S. Beyond that, satisfaction with life deteriorates, it said.

What is the least stressful job in it? ›

  • Software developer.
  • Information security analyst.
  • IT manager.
  • Web developer.
  • Management analyst.
  • Computer systems analyst.
  • Data scientist.
  • Database administrator.
Aug 1, 2023

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