Everyone would love to find a job that makes them happy and satisfies their financial needs. Unfortunately, finding this balance often seems elusive.

A 2019 study from Glassdoor found that work culture, company values, and opportunities for career growth contribute more to job satisfaction than money.

Construction Worker

If you’re looking for a job that offers career advancement, a good work-life balance and a high level of satisfaction, consider a career in construction. As a construction worker, you’ll help build and finish buildings, roads and other structures.

You’ll need to be physically fit, have good communication skills and be able to work well with other workers. It’s also important to be able to follow instructions and safety rules.

It’s a challenging job that requires lots of physical labor, but it is also rewarding and pays well. In fact, according to TINYpulse, employees rated construction as the #1 industry for job happiness in 2015.

Employees also say that working on a project gives them a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They enjoy watching their work transform into a new building or city landmark and are proud to say that they helped make it happen.

Teacher

A teaching job is one of the most rewarding careers in the world, especially when students have “aha” moments. Teachers report seeing their students make a breakthrough or understand something they’ve struggled with in their classes as the most fulfilling parts of their jobs, and this feeling is reflected in teacher job satisfaction scores.

Teachers who find their jobs meaningful and feel that they’re making a real impact on their students are more satisfied with their lives than the average graduate, according to a new study into teacher wellbeing. Researchers at the Education Policy Institute carried out the review after some negative headlines questioned whether teacher mental health is declining.

Various studies have shown that teacher job satisfaction is influenced by various working conditions (Klassen & Chiu, 2010; Hodkinson & Sparks, 1997). These include school leadership support, teaching resources, and teacher workload.

Firefighter

According to a recent survey by Bloomberg Work Wise, firefighters are the happiest profession. Their median annual income is just under $50,000, but their satisfaction scores are 9 of 10 on a job satisfaction scale.

The job can be grueling, but it’s incredibly rewarding and noble. Firefighters save lives, respond to medical emergencies and hazardous situations, and protect the public from harm.

To become a firefighter, candidates must go through a training program at a fire academy and pass tests. The training can take weeks or months and requires a high school diploma or equivalent.

Firefighters are also susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to depression and substance abuse. It’s important for firefighters to recognize symptoms of chronic stress and get help. They should share their symptoms with their family members and support them through healthy coping strategies.

Education Administrator

The happiest job in the country is probably a tie between being an executive, a manager or the head honcho of a department. If you’re looking to improve your chances of landing a promotion, consider the following best practices: make a list and stick to it; heed the advice of your boss or co-workers and follow it through; and finally, get on the right track by having a clear career plan in mind at all times. The best way to accomplish these is to use a career assessment tool like this one to help you identify which jobs are best for you. The resulting job plethora will give you a more focused, personalized approach to your employment goals. The end result will be a happier, healthier you.