The divorce rates vary greatly between the highest and lowest jobs

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the divorce rate in America is 2.9% per 1,000 people, which can vary based on factors such as race, age, and education level. However, the type of job one holds can also be a significant factor, as highlighted by statistician Nathan Yau who used data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 American Community Survey to identify professions with the highest and lowest divorce rates. 

Certain jobs, particularly those that are stressful or demanding, may place strain on a marriage, whether it's due to financial concerns, long work hours, or even infidelity. It's easy to understand why some jobs, like telemarketers or flight attendants, might contribute to marital problems, with their chatty nature and frequent travel causing friction within a relationship.

Despite the humorous take on certain professions, the data reveals that certain industries with declining or low-paying jobs have higher divorce rates. Conversely, jobs in the healthcare industry, such as physicians, dentists, and physical therapists, tend to have lower divorce rates, as do actuaries who are skilled in assessing and managing risks. Optometrists, whose profession revolves around sight, are also among the jobs with lower divorce rates. It's clear that the nature of one's job can play a role in marital success or failure. 

The list below provides details on the divorce rates for different industries and highlights the specific jobs with the highest and lowest divorce rates. It's important to remember that settling for a job that may negatively impact your marriage is not necessary.

Jobs with the lowest divorce rate:

1. Actuaries 17%
2. Physical scientists 18.9%
3. Medical scientists and life scientist 19.6%
4. Clergy 19.8%
5. Software developers 20.3%
6. Physical therapists 20.7%
7. Optometrists 20.8%
8. Chemical engineers 21.1%
9. Religious and education directors 21.3%
10. Physicians and surgeons 21.8%
11. Biomedical and agricultural engineers 22%
12. Podiatrists 22.4%
13. Dentists 22.5%
14. Pharmacists 22.6%
15. Military enlisted tactical operations and air/weapons specialists and crew members 23%
16. Speech language pathologists 23.2%
17. Natural science managers 23.7%
18. Biological scientists 23.7%
19. Veterinarians 23.9%
20. Agricultural products graders and sorters 24%

Jobs with the highest divorce rate:

1. Gaming managers 52.9%
2. Bartenders 52.7%
3. Flight attendants 50.5%
4. Gaming service workers 50.3%
5. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders 50.1%
6. Switchboard operators 49.7%
7. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders 49.6%
8. Telemarketers 49.2%
9. Textile knitting and weaving machine operators and tenders 48.9%
10. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders 48.8%
11. Telephone operators 47.8%
12. Massage therapists 47.8%
13. Gaming cage workers 47.3%
14. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 47%
15. First-line supervisors of correctional officers 46.9%
16. Dancers and choreographers 46.8%
17. Dispatchers 46.6%
18. Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine operators 46.5%
19. Ambulance drivers and attendants 46.3%
20. Small engine mechanics 46.2%

Industries ranked from lowest to highest divorce rate:

1. Architecture and engineering 27.5%
2. Computers and mathematics 27.6%
3. Military 28.3%
4. Life, physical, and social science 28.5%
5. Education and library 30.1%
6. Health care 31.6%
7. Community and social services 32.5%
8. Farming, fishing, and forestry 33.0%
9. Finance 33.9%
10. Legal 35%
11. Arts and entertainment 35.2%
12. Management 35.7%
13. Business operations 36%
14. Construction 36.5%
15. Extraction 37.3%
16. Food preparation and serving 37.4%
17. Building and grounds cleaning 37.8%
18. Sales 38.2%
19. Production 38.9%
20. Health care support 39.2%
21. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers 39.3%
22. Personal care and service 39.6%
23. Protective services 40%
24. Transportation 40.5%
25. Office and administrative support 40.6%

Looking for a job that's the perfect match for you? Even if you're not in a profession with a high divorce rate, a job that's a poor fit can still cause stress and dissatisfaction. Luckily, you can join Monster for free to find an employer that makes you feel valued. As a member, you can upload up to five tailored versions of your resume and be visible to recruiters searching for qualified candidates like you. You can also receive job alerts straight to your inbox to save time on job hunting. Let Monster play matchmaker and help you find your happily ever after in your career.