The quest for a happier life could lead you to a college degree. A recent University of Chicago job-satisfaction study, "Job Satisfaction in the United States," identifies the occupations with the happiest workers. According to researcher Tom W. Smith, the most-satisfying jobs involve creative pursuits or caring for, teaching, or protecting other people. Job satisfaction also increases with the prestige of an occupation: eight of the twelve careers that are tops in job satisfaction require a college education.
Here's a look at five of those careers--and the training that can get you started in one.
1. Physical Therapist
Physical therapists (PTs) fall into the second category of happy workers: caretakers. Eight out of ten PTs are "very satisfied" at work. PTs work closely with ill or injured patients, helping them overcome physical challenges and improve their quality of life. Today's physical therapists need a graduate degree to practice. You can get there by completing a two-year master's degree or a three-year professional doctorate from an accredited physical-therapy program. Or start with an associate's degree and work as a physical therapist assistant. You can then upgrade your career while you work by completing the bachelor's and master's degrees online.
- Salary: $74,410 for physical therapists; $46,300 for PT assistants
2. Education Administrator
The satisfaction of helping students earns education administrators a spot among the happiest professions. Principals, college deans, preschool directors, and other administrators enjoy a 78 percent satisfaction rate. Education administrators lead schools, preschools, colleges, and other education programs. They develop standards, initiate programs to achieve them, and oversee budgets and operations. A master's degree in education (M.Ed.) is the standard stepping stone into an education administrator's job. Many administrators advance into the career by way of a teaching career. You can head directly for the postgraduate credential, or start with a bachelor's degree in education. Online degree programs in education administration are designed to accommodate working teachers' busy schedules.
- Salary: $86,060 for K-12 administrators; $92,920 for postsecondary administrators
3. Financial-Services Agent
Money can't buy you happiness--but managing other people's money might. Financial-services agents advise their clients about investments, savings plans, and retirement planning. The career combines strategic thinking and helping people, earning it high satisfaction points among 65 percent of workers in the field. A bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or economics sets you up as a financial-services professional. To hone your competitive edge, complete an online MBA degree after you begin working in the field.
- Salary: $92,050
4. Psychologist
Psychologists find happiness by making other people happier. About 67 percent of psychologists rank their job satisfaction at the highest level. Help your clients overcome emotional and mental obstacles and find their way to a better life. About a third of psychologists operate private practices, further enhancing their happiness through the freedom of self-employment. A master's or doctoral degree in psychology prepares you for a career as a psychologist. You can start with a bachelor's degree in psychology and work as a psychologist's assistant or an administrator in a mental health clinic while you work toward the graduate degree.
- Salary: $70,190
5. Special Education Teacher
Special education teachers help students who need it most--those facing mental and physical challenges. Helping these students overcome obstacles and achieve success translates into on-the-job happiness for 70 percent of special ed teachers. "Excellent" job prospects and 17 percent employment growth can't hurt either. A bachelor's degree in special education and an approved teacher training program offer a direct route into a special education career. Some states require a master's degree, which you can complete through an online degree program during the first years of your teaching career.
- Salary: $55,050
Happiness at Work Beyond
Other career categories in the top twelve include clergy, firefighters, office supervisors, and artists.
Work makes up about half of our waking life, so it's no wonder that the road to happiness in life begins with on-the-job happiness. The University of Chicago survey found that nearly half of peopl
e who like their jobs are "very happy," compared with only 15 percent of people who dislike their jobs. A college degree might not buy you happiness, but it could take you a step closer to finding happiness in your career.
Dr. Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer who covers business and education topics.
Source: Mean salary figures were reported in 2008 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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