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Pastoring and other happy jobs

Pastoring and other happy jobs

Last updated on: January 23, 2009 at 8:46 am by Gene Veith

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Pastoring and other happy jobs 2009-01-23T08:46:46-05:00 Gene Veith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

According to another one of those studies, the job that scores highest on the happiness index for people who hold it is (believe it or not) being a pastor! Here are the top ten in order of happiness:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am rather astonished at this, since pastors, to my mind, have one of the hardest and most stressful of jobs, taking on as they do the problems and burdens of everyone in their congregation. I have known quite a few unhappy pastors, most of whom are unhappy for very good reasons. I’d like to hear from pastors about what they think of this survey and the nature of the happiness it records.

Notice that few of these jobs earn that much money. (Actors & directors maybe, if you are a big Hollywood star or mogul, but there aren’t many of those. Most folks in these professions barely get by and have no security, living as they do from one gig to the next.) Isn’t it interesting that not “teachers” but “special education teachers,” who one would think have the most heart-breaking of tasks, have so much happiness.

What all can we conclude about vocation from this study?

HT: Rev. Braaten at Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Vocation

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