Clergy, firefighters most satisfied workers

NEW YORK, April 18 (Reuters Life!) - Pay and prestige may be the measure of job success for some, but people looking for satisfaction and happiness in their work should be in an altruistic profession, according to a new survey.

"The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching, and protecting others and creative pursuits," Tom W. Smith, of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, said in a statement.

In a survey of 27,587 people questioned about their work, across all occupations, on average, 47 percent said they were very satisfied with their jobs and 33 percent said they were very happy.

Topping the list of workers with the most satisfying jobs were the clergy (87 percent), firefighters (80 percent) and physical therapists (78 percent).

Clergy and firefighters were also the top two occupations in general happiness with 67 and 57 percent, respectively.

How a person feels about their work has a impact on their happiness, according to Smith.

"The least satisfying dozen jobs are mostly low-skill, manual and service occupations, especially involving customer service and food/beverage preparation and serving," he said.

Rounding out the bottom of the list as the least satisfied workers were roofers (25 percent), followed by waiters/servers (27 percent). Garage and service station attendants were unhappy with their jobs (13 percent) along with roofers (14 percent).

Doctors and lawyers, who generally hold the public spotlight as far as prestigious occupations go, were not among the top twelve satisfied or happiest workers.

Smith said this is most likely due to the large responsibility and possible stress load of these professions.