Happiness on the Job
Americans work more than they sleep. We also get—and take—less vacation than any other Western nation. But we’re a remarkably satisfied lot: 9 out of 10 Americans say they are moderately or very satisfied with their job—a number that hasn’t changed much in 35 years. Priests and firefighters are the most joyful, and they’re pretty close to the middle of U.S. earners. Yes, the rich are getting richer and leaving 99.9% of us behind.
Nine in 10 Americans say they are moderately or very satisfied with their job. But what jobs make us happy?
Scroll over the arrow below for a few examples from TIME magazine’s survey or read a text version
of the careers listed on the arrow graphic. The full survey and story is available in its entirety on the TIME magazine Web site.
Are you ready for a reality check?
According to the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing.
Many young people fail in the management of their first consumer credit experience, establish bad financial management habits, and stumble through their lives learning by trial and error.
Let’s see how well you survive with the type of lifestyle you want to live.
Sources: Job happiness and satisfaction data are from the General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago; employment and median-salary figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For more information about preparing for college, visit www.OKcollegestart.org, call the Student Information Hotline at 800.858.1840 (225.9239 in Oklahoma City) or e-mail studentinfo@osrhe.edu.