Probability of Being Satisfied with Your Job

Approximately 62% of US workers report being satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, according to Gallup and Conference Board surveys. This figure has been remarkably stable over the past decade, hovering between 56% and 65%. However, there is a significant gap between "satisfied" and "engaged": only about 32% of workers report being actively engaged at work.

Job satisfaction varies by factors including age (older workers tend to be more satisfied), income (satisfaction increases with pay up to about $75,000-100,000, then plateaus), education (mixed results: higher education increases expectations along with opportunities), autonomy (the strongest predictor of satisfaction), relationship with manager, and work-life balance.

The most satisfying occupations consistently include clergy, firefighters, physical therapists, special education teachers, and software developers, while the least satisfying include parking lot attendants, cashiers, food servers, and telemarketers. The rise of remote work has generally improved job satisfaction by 5-10 percentage points for those with the option. Companies with highly engaged workforces are 21% more profitable than those with disengaged workers.