What Are The Most Respected Professions In The US?
Choosing a new career isn’t just about the salary. While the money that you can potentially earn will be a factor in your career choice, many job hunters are looking for something a little more satisfying than that. Job satisfaction is vital for a long and happy career, and that means being aware of those jobs that come with the highest levels of that satisfaction. Having a look at the most respected careers is always worth the time because the respect that you get from those jobs can lead to much higher levels of that all-important career satisfaction. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking for options or you’ve been working for a while and want to change careers, here’s a list of the six most respected professions in the US in reverse order.
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Government Manager
If you’re looking for a career with a lot of responsibility, then becoming a government manager is an option that’s worth looking at a little more closely. The duties of a government manager are very similar to that of a CEO for a corporation in that your main responsibilities will be to manage the performance of your department while implementing any new policies introduced by elected officials. This is a popular career choice in recent years because the education needed can vary wildly. In some cases, no specific training will be required to get your foot in the door, but if you want to excel in this position, then you’re going to need to have a degree in either political science, public administration, or business administration. To be able to then apply for the manager’s position, you will need to have at least five years of experience working for the local government.
Nurse
There are many routes to becoming a nurse, and it can take time to get the qualifications that you need. However, once you start on this career path, you will have a clearly defined path for career growth. Of course, you may never become a millionaire by choosing nursing as a career, but if you’re looking for a well-respected and rewarding profession then it’s hard to beat becoming a nurse. That’s because nurses get a lot of respect for the hard work that they do, and in recent years there has been an increase in the number of people and organizations making a very public thank you to nurses. Of course, nursing schools can be extremely challenging environments, and you’ll need to have some understanding of chemistry, biology, and math, to name just a few.
Teacher
No list of respected professions is going to be complete without mentioning teachers. It’s one of the most respected professions in the world, but it can also be one of the most underpaid. Teaching remains one of the most respected careers to choose despite the possibility of that low pay, and rightly so. Teaching the next generations can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be extremely stressful. Your prospects as a teacher will depend on the subject that you teach and the state where you teach. Some states treat teaching with the respect the profession deserves, while
Engineers
A relative newcomer to the list of most respected professions in America, choosing to become an engineer is one of the more popular career options of recent years. That’s because, compared to other careers on this list, the number of years in training can be significantly shorter. Your basic education subjects will need to include algebra, physics, trigonometry, geometry, chemistry, and sometimes biology (although this will depend on the engineering field you’re planning to make your career in). You will then need to have a degree in engineering, which will be followed by up to three years of graduate training. This will be finished off by around three (but sometimes two) years of work experience that can be very low paid. However, engineers are more respected than ever, and they can be extremely highly paid too.
Lawyer
Pretty much everyone will have to use a lawyer at some point, and they can often be a lifeline for those that are the most desperate. Attorneys can command large salaries, but that’s a reflection of the amount of education that you’ll have to complete. You’ll have to have finished high school to start with, and you’ll then have to commit to four years of studying for your undergrad degree, all followed by another three years of law school. Make no mistake, this is one of the most challenging career options to choose from, but it can be the source of enormous job satisfaction, especially if you plan on helping people out of difficult situations.
Doctor
It’s no surprise to find that doctors remain the most highly respected profession in the US, especially in light of recent global events. Of course, you can’t just decide to become a doctor and then start treating people! It takes a lot of time to complete doctor training. First, you’ll have to complete four years of undergrad training, followed by another four years of medical school, and then between three and seven years of additional training depending on your specialty. Choosing to become a doctor is a big decision, but if you want a career that garners a lot of respect, then it’s hard to beat becoming a doctor. It can also be one of the highest-paid professions, so if being a doctor sounds appealing, then it might be time to commit to all of that education.
Choosing a new career isn’t always easy. The good news is that there are more resources available than ever before for job hunters. However, don’t leap into a new career option without doing your research first. Choose your career based on what you need from it, and your chances of finding the perfect, most respected profession for you will be much easier.
