The UK’s happiest and unhappiest jobs revealed – see if yours made the list

by Admin
September 30, 2024

If you can’t relate to the ‘Sunday scaries’ crowd, and instead spring out of bed on Monday morning excited to start the working week, you might just be a car designer – which according to new research, is officially the UK’s happiest job.

Bubblegum Search analysed over 2,000 Reddit comments in relevant threads to create the ranking, also looking at factors like average wages and hours worked.

With a salary range of £40,000 to £60,000, car designers came out victorious,with employees saying they’re passionate about what they do and love the creative freedom they get at work.

This was followed by animator and game developer, while tech-based jobs in IT support and cybersecurity – all roles with 40 or more hours a week but higher than national average wages – made up the top five

While there’s certainly a correlation between high pay and happy staff, it appears money isn’t everything when it comes to loving a job. Dog photographer and librarian, for example, placed sixth and 13th on the list respectively, despite the fact they earn less than the UK median of £34,963.

In these professions, people said they loved the work itself, from spending time with animals to sharing their interest in books and engaging with the local community.

The UK’s happiest jobs

Car designer
- Average salary: £40,000 – £60,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Passion for automotive design, creative freedom
Animator
- Average salary: £30,000 – £45,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Creative work, fun work environment with peers
Game developer
- Average salary: £35,000 – £50,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Fulfilling childhood dreams, creative projects
IT support specialist
- Average salary: £30,000 – £50,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Solving technical issues, autonomy, working with close friends
Cybersecurity specialist
- Average salary: £50,000 – £70,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Developing policy, autonomy, problem-solving
Dog photographer
- Average salary: £20,000 – £35,000
- Average hours per week: Variable
- Satisfaction level: Very high
- Key factors: Flexible hours, working with animals, creative freedom
Developmental biologist
- Average salary: £35,000 – £50,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: High
- Key factors: Passionate about research, fulfilling scientific exploration
Occupational therapist
- Average salary: £30,000 – £40,000
- Average hours per week: 37.5
- Satisfaction level: High
- Key factors: Helping people, fulfilling work, autonomy
UX designer
- Average salary: £30,000 – £50,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: High
- Key factors: Solving user problems, creative freedom
System administrator
- Average salary: £30,000 – £45,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: High
- Key factors: Problem-solving, creative technical challenges

Unfortunately, however, it’s not quite as rosy a picture for electricians, ranked lowest on the list.

Part of the reason for claiming the title of unhappiest is the job’s physically demanding nature, which didn’t seem to make up for the ‘decent’ £25,000 to £40,000 pay on offer.

It’s not much better to be a psychiatric aide either, as although the work itself (physically and emotionally caring for patients and with mental health disorders in hospitals) was described as low stress, many found it to be ’emotionally draining’.

In general, the healthcare industry scored poorly, with the likes of ER workers and paramedics struggling to cope dealing with tragedy day in, day out.

The UK’s unhappiest jobs

Electrician
- Average salary: £25,000 – £40,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Hands-on technical work, decent pay, but physically demanding
Psychiatric aide (hospital)
- Average salary: £20,000 – £30,000
- Average hours per week: 37.5
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Low-stress but emotionally draining work
Social worker
- Average salary: £25,000 – £30,000
- Average hours per week: 40
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Impactful work but emotionally draining
Construction worker (labourer)
- Average salary: £20,000 – £30,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Physically demanding, unpredictable hours
Warehouse manager
- Average salary: £25,000 – £40,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Interesting work environment but physically demanding
Night cleaner
- Average salary: £18,000 – £22,000
- Average hours per week: 37.5
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Low-stress but repetitive and often physically demanding work
Video game quality tester
- Average salary: £20,000 – £30,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Fun work environment but long hours and stress
Hospital security
- Average salary: £20,000 – £30,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Interesting work but potential for high stress and danger
Surgical coordinator
- Average salary: £25,000 – £35,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Fulfilling work but emotionally draining
Construction project manager
- Average salary: £45,000 – £60,000
- Average hours per week: 40+
- Satisfaction level: Mixed
- Key factors: Autonomy but high stress and unpredictable hours

Rounding off the bottom five in terms of worker satisfaction was social worker, labourer, and warehouse manager, each of which comes with an average salary of £35,000 or below.

These roles were called ‘draining’ and ‘demanding’ by employees online, and issues like unpredictable hours and physical strain were cited as reasons why they were unhappy.

A spokesperson from Bubblegum Search said of the findings: ‘Our study highlights that people are happiest in roles where they have the freedom to express themselves creatively, work on projects they are passionate about, and enjoy a degree of flexibility.’

Work/life balance is a growing priority for the country’s workforce, particularly when it comes to younger employees, as recent talk over the ‘right to disconnect’ and the return to the office shows shifting outlooks.

No longer is it enough to have a job that pays the bills, the new generation wants to do something based on what they enjoy outside of 9-5. For example, business manager used to be a top answer when kids were asked what they want to be when they grow up – nowadays, it’s eclipsed by video game designer, sportsperson, or fashion designer.

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