New Delhi: Ever wondered which jobs make people the happiest? A new study from the University of Tartu in Estonia has some answers. After looking at data from 59,000 people across 263 professions, researchers have revealed which careers bring the most satisfaction—and which ones don’t.

The study found that people are happiest in jobs where they feel a strong sense of purpose, independence, and the chance to make a real difference. Medical workers, psychologists, and special-needs teachers were among the most satisfied. Interestingly, jobs like sheet-metal workers and ship engineers also ranked high—proving that true job satisfaction isn’t just about big titles or high salaries.

Clergy members, healthcare workers and writers came out on top for job satisfaction, largely because their work offers a strong sense of purpose and connection. Careers that encourage creativity, offer independence and provide a feeling of accomplishment also ranked highly, showing that fulfillment isn’t just about the paycheck.

The lead researcher of the study pointed out that having the freedom to make decisions and manage your own work plays a big role in job happiness. This might be why self-employed people often feel more satisfied—they enjoy more flexibility and control over their time, which boosts their overall well-being.

Jobs With the Lowest Satisfaction

On the flip side, roles that involve repetitive tasks, little control, or high stress scored low on job satisfaction. Security guards, survey interviewers, waiters, sales workers, mail carriers, and chemical engineers were among the least satisfied. Workers in kitchens, warehouses, transportation, storage, manufacturing, and retail also reported lower levels of happiness in their jobs.

Many of the least satisfying jobs have a few things in common—they offer little freedom, involve repetitive tasks, and can be stressful or physically demanding. According to the study, these factors have a bigger impact on job happiness than salary or status. In fact, the research found only a weak link between income or prestige and satisfaction. It turns out that feeling emotionally rewarded and having a sense of personal achievement matter much more when it comes to truly enjoying your work.