What is the most respected profession in the US?

Asked by: Fannie Sporer  |  Last update: February 22, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (25 votes)

In the U.S., nurses, doctors, grade-school teachers, military officers, and pharmacists consistently rank as the most respected professions for honesty and ethics, with nurses often leading the list, while firefighters, scientists, and clergy also enjoy high esteem, according to recent polls from Gallup and YouGov. These healthcare and public service roles are valued for their integrity and vital contributions to society, contrasting with professions like lobbyists and TV reporters who consistently rank low.

What is the most respected profession in the United States?

The most trusted professions

18, 2024. Respondents were asked to rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in different professions. Overall, nurses were ranked as the most trusted profession in the United States, with 76% of respondents saying that nurses had "high" or "very high" honesty and ethics.

What is the #1 most trusted profession?

Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in the U.S. by Gallup's annual poll, as reported by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the American Nurses Association, holding this top spot for over two decades due to their perceived high honesty, ethics, compassion, and vital role in patient care, often outpacing doctors, pharmacists, and teachers. While global polls might favor doctors, the consistent U.S. trend points to nursing as the leading trusted profession, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

What is the most respected profession?

Top 10 Most Respected Professions in the World

  • Doctors / Physicians.
  • Nurses.
  • Teachers / Educators.
  • Scientists / Researchers.
  • Engineers.
  • Firefighters.
  • Military Personnel / Soldiers.
  • Judges.

What is the #1 happiest profession?

There's no single #1 happiest job, as it varies by individual, but recent studies and surveys often point to Construction as a top industry for overall worker satisfaction due to good pay, culture, and time outdoors, while specific roles like Data Scientists, Surgeons, Firefighters, and Psychologists are frequently cited for high satisfaction, often linked to meaningful impact, good compensation, or autonomy. 

The World Most Respected Profession

42 related questions found

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal. 

What is the least respected profession?

The least trusted professions, with more than half of U.S. adults saying their ethics are low or very low, are lobbyists, members of Congress and TV reporters.

What profession makes $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k/year are typically high-level, specialized roles in Medicine (Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Psychiatrists), Finance (Investment Bankers, Private Equity), Tech (Senior Engineers, Product Managers), Law (Big Law Attorneys), and Sales (Enterprise Software Sales), often requiring extensive experience or education, though successful entrepreneurs, high-end sales execs, and some skilled trades can also reach this income without traditional degrees. 

What is the #1 dream job?

The number one dream job globally, based on recent studies analyzing search trends, is a Pilot, appealing for travel and competitive pay, while in the U.S., it can vary, with roles like Flight Attendant or Real Estate Agent appearing high, and other popular dreams include Attorney, Nurse, Police Officer.
 

Which job is most respected in the world?

Doctors, scientists, and farmers are the most respected jobs. Reality TV stars and politicians attracted the least respect. The top factors that make a job respectable are caring for others, trustworthiness, and being essential to society.

What are the three true professions?

It is generally agreed that the term derives from the French term "profession libérale." From medieval times until early in the 18th century, there were only three recognized liberal or "learned" professions: divinity, medicine and law. According to R. W.

What is the most respected profession in 2025?

In the 2025 poll, just four professions earned majority-level positive ethics ratings:

  • Nurses: 75%
  • Military veterans: 67% (newly added profession in 2025)
  • Medical doctors: 57%
  • Pharmacists: 53%

What is the #1 trusted profession?

Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in the U.S. by Gallup's annual poll, as reported by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the American Nurses Association, holding this top spot for over two decades due to their perceived high honesty, ethics, compassion, and vital role in patient care, often outpacing doctors, pharmacists, and teachers. While global polls might favor doctors, the consistent U.S. trend points to nursing as the leading trusted profession, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

What are the top 3 professions of millionaires?

Based on a large study by Ramsey Solutions, the top three careers for millionaires are Engineer, Accountant (CPA), and Teacher, followed by Management and Attorney, with many millionaires achieving wealth through consistent investing and saving rather than just high incomes. 

What professions make $500,000 a year?

Jobs paying $500k or more annually are typically in specialized medicine (surgeons, specialists), high-level corporate leadership (CEOs, VPs, Directors), finance (investment banking, private equity), top-tier sales (Enterprise Account Executive), specialized tech, and successful entrepreneurship, often requiring extensive education, experience, or successful business ownership. Medical specialties like Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiology, and Dermatology consistently offer such high salaries, as do roles in C-suite management, senior legal positions, and senior finance roles. 

What jobs don't require a 4-year degree but pay well?

20 High-Paying Jobs That Don't Require a Degree

  • Commercial Pilot. Average Annual Wage: $176,000. ...
  • Dental Hygienist. Average Annual Wage: $169,000. ...
  • Ship Mate (First Mate) ...
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. ...
  • Real Estate Manager. ...
  • Elevator and Escalator Installer/Repairer. ...
  • Nuclear Technician. ...
  • Air Traffic Controller.

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The #1 highest-paying job consistently ranks as Surgeons, particularly Pediatric Surgeons, followed closely by Cardiologists, Anesthesiologists, and Orthodontists, all within the medical field, requiring extensive education and specialized skills for high-stakes procedures and patient care. Other top earners include Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Psychiatrists, and specialized IT roles like Enterprise Architects, but healthcare physicians generally dominate the very top of salary lists. 

What is the hidden career that pays $300000?

This 'hidden' career path is in dire need of more workers—and it can pay Gen Z over $300,000 with no degree required. Aviation maintenance technicians can land Gen Z six-figure salaries—if they're willing to brave extreme weather, noisy tarmacs, and the smell of jet fumes.

What is the most unhealthy profession?

There isn't one single "unhealthiest" job, but roles in healthcare (dentists, nurses, EMTs, radiologists), transportation (flight attendants, material handlers), and industrial settings (metal refiners, chemical operators) consistently rank high due to risks like infectious disease, radiation, stress, contaminants, and physical strain, with dentists often topping lists for disease exposure and sitting risks. Factors like burnout, hazardous materials, radiation, and prolonged sitting contribute to the poor health outcomes in these professions.
 

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

Earning $2000 daily often involves high-skill freelancing (consulting, specialized writing), high-ticket sales, advanced digital marketing (SEO, funnel building), or specialized gig economy work (luxury pet care, event services), with some paths like content creation or e-commerce taking significant time to scale; quick cash might come from selling valuable items or intense gig work (Uber, TaskRabbit, Rover), while long-term potential lies in building assets like courses or membership sites. 

What is the most loyal profession?

When Ipsos released the latest version of their Global Trustworthiness Index in October 2021, doctors emerged as the most trusted profession among nearly 20,000 respondents across 28 different countries.

How much is $60,000 a year hourly?

$60,000 a year is approximately $28.85 per hour, calculated by dividing the annual salary by 2,080 work hours in a year (40 hours/week x 52 weeks/year). This is your gross pay before taxes and deductions, and it can change if you work more or fewer hours than the standard 40 per week. 

How can I make $500,000 a year?

13 jobs that can pay over $500k a year

  1. Actor.
  2. Author.
  3. Accountant.
  4. Insurance agent.
  5. Investment banker.
  6. Professional athlete.
  7. Entrepreneur.
  8. Hedge fund manager.