15 Most Respected Jobs in America in 2017

Would you agree that the most respected jobs in America in 2017 deserve the esteem that they are usually proffered? Respect is a subjective concept, and although every country has different morals and values, the most prestigious jobs in the world have something in common with the most coveted jobs in America. The USA and the rest of the world agree that jobs that tend to assist citizens and societies in some way or the other are the ones that warrant the most appreciation. That is why doctors, military officers, nurses, firefighters, and similar jobs are always present on every list of occupations ranked by esteem, in the USA or otherwise.

Respect doesn’t always get you the best jobs, however. I mean it’s up to you really, whether you consider prestige an important criterion when judging whether a job is good enough for you. That’s why it’s hard to name least prestigious jobs. The best jobs in America in 2017 as ranked by Glassdoor take into account, not respect that other people give the position, but salaries, job openings, and job satisfaction. I have to say that I agree with them. While it’s fun to enjoy high esteem, the matter that is more important to me while taking up a job is my own contentment with it. However, if you consider the list of 100 best jobs in 2017 by US News, you will discover that it is entirely different from Glassdoor’s. My point is that US News’s definition of “best jobs” will be different from yours or mine. It all depends on what you put first. For example, if respect and money are the two factors that get you going, then our piece on the top 6 most respected professions that also pay well will tell you all you need to know. Then again, if you don’t have the qualification required for these occupations, the most significant feature of a job for you must be whether or not it requires a degree. But have no fear; the best jobs in 2017 without a degree include some good options too, like commercial pilots and electrical engineers!

Of course one also has to look at whether the job will have any scope in the future. Jobs with growing demand are always highly sought after; they include professionals like home care aides, biomedical engineers and physical therapy assistants who may well be thanking their lucky stars for choosing these careers by the year 2020.

Let’s not forget the innumerable immigrants that also reside in the US. The nation is full of job opportunities, but it is always hard for an outsider to secure one. Well, if you’re looking for jobs in America for foreigners, Visa Hunter has a helpful list of websites that will make your search easier, if not completely effortless. Then again, when is finding a job ever effortless?

But I digress. We were here to talk about the most respected jobs in America in 2017, weren’t we? Well, we decided to extend our previous list of the 10 most prestigious jobs in America and to do that, we referred to a survey conducted by the Harris Poll, in which Americans were asked whether they considered certain professions prestigious or not. The jobs that got the highest percentage of “has a great deal of prestige” and “has prestige” answers made it to our list. For the purpose of this list, we called the resulting number “the percentage of prestige.” However, this resulted in quite a lot of ties, so we decided to use a tiebreaker. Professions that had the exact same percentage of prestige were then ranked based on the percentage of people who would encourage their child to pursue that particular job (another question in the survey). Please note that we used this question only for tiebreakers and not for the actual ranking.

Unfortunately, the results of this poll were released in 2016, and we couldn’t find reliable data for 2017. Have no fear though, the rankings are extremely unlikely to change. I mean you don’t expect a nation to change their opinion in a short span of 365 days, do you? In fact, the list of most respected professions has had to suffer very minimal changes in the last 37 years! I’m sure that fact must have convinced you. Now that that’s out of the way let’s get started with the list of most respected jobs in America in 2017!

15. Athlete

Percentage of prestige: 62%

Whether a footballer, a runner or a boxer, being an athlete requires a certain perseverance. I’m sure Usain Bolt wasn’t made in a day, nor was Roger Federer. And that perseverance, coupled with the fit and healthy lifestyles most athletes lead, has led them to be sufficiently admired in America and the rest of the world.

14. Lawyer

Percentage of prestige: 62%

It was quite an astonishment to discover lawyers to be one of the most well-respected professions in America as I was under the impression that lawyers are not only despised but are considered to be deceptive. Well, it just goes to show how negative opinions about a particular thing are publicized a lot more than positive ones are. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that lawyers are paid quite well throughout the country.

13. Chef

Percentage of prestige: 62%

Chefs, that ranked 13th on our list of most respected jobs in America in 2017 are supremely talented, and it’s good to know that they are getting appreciated for it. Without them, where would we be? The pleasure of good food would be lost to us, and I don’t think I can bear to envision such a world. Whether it’s homey food or fine dining, chefs can tantalize your taste buds in every way possible.

12. Entrepreneur

Percentage of prestige: 65%

The prerequisite for being an entrepreneur is innovation, and an innovative mind is a rare quality to possess, which is why it is also widely esteemed. Although being an entrepreneur carries with it a certain risk compared to the other professions on our list of most respected jobs in America, it is certainly worth it if the venture succeeds.

11. Teacher

Percentage of prestige: 65%

If you ask me educators should be higher up on this list, considering that they mold the future of the country. But it is safe to say that some states respect teachers more than others since teachers’ salaries are extremely disparate in different areas of the country. The worst ones are these states where teachers earn the lowest salaries, a list you should definitely check out if you are a teacher.

10. Police Officer

Percentage of prestige: 67%

At number 10 on the list of most respected jobs in America in 2017 we have cops that are responsible for the day to day avoidance of crime, and without them, any place would end up completely lawless. However, sadly, even though the profession is considered prestigious, not many people are willing to opt for it due to the danger involved and the low pay, causing many cities to suffer a police shortage: an alarming situation that concerned authorities should be taking note of.

9. Veterinarian

Percentage of prestige: 71%

A profession that serves animals? Of course, it’s loved by many. While veterinarians do not hold quite the spot in people’s hearts and on our list of the most prestigious jobs in America that doctors do, they are not far behind. They are also paid well, with a mean annual wage of $100,560 to fill their pockets.

8. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Percentage of prestige: 72%

If any profession needs people who are adept at responding to emergencies, it’s this one. EMTs, next on our list of most respected jobs in America in 2017, are the amazing people that hurry to your side in case of a medical emergency, saving countless lives in the process. However, unfortunately, their pay is not at all impressive standing at an annual $36,110.

7. Architect

Percentage of prestige: 72%

The high-rise buildings that have now taken over the country: we owe them all to architects. These professionals are also responsible for innumerable historic structures all over the world, which are a source of wonder for anyone who lays eyes on them. Suffice it to say; architects are highly creative, not to mention extremely intelligent.

6. Nurse

Percentage of prestige: 76%

The medical industry would be nowhere without nurses. They are the ones who are actually present to tend to the patients. They comfort them, feed them, assist them and do everything in their power to make the patient’s treatment as painless as possible, and for that, they deserve all the recognition in the world.

5. Engineer

Percentage of prestige: 76%

We are continuing our list of most respected jobs in America in 2017 with engineering that is a hugely diverse occupation: civil engineers, mechanical engineers, material engineers, the list is endless. But people are only to hear the word “engineer” and they fawn over how brilliant you are: a mark of the respect engineers enjoy in this country.

4. Military Officer

Percentage of prestige: 78%

Military officers risk their lives for the protection of the nation, leave their families for the love of the country, and abandon their personal lives for their military lives, so it’s really no wonder that they are thought highly of, giving them the 4th spot on our list of the most respected jobs in America in 2017.

3. Firefighter

Percentage of prestige: 80%

The third place on our list of most respected jobs in America in 2017 goes to firefighters that are loved all over the country; a child’s dream to meet one, a woman’s dream to date one, a man’s dream to become one. That is not to say that women cannot be firefighters but the unfortunate truth is that merely 7% of firefighters in the country are female.

2. Scientist

Percentage of prestige: 83%

Scientists, like engineers, have numerous fields to choose from, and maybe each of them has different dynamics, but they have one thing in common; they are all put on a pedestal by American citizens. Not for the bad reason though: scientists are hard workers, skilled at performing highly demanding tasks and owners of extremely inquisitive minds.

1. Doctor

Percentage of prestige: 90%

An astounding 90% people involved in the survey thought that being a doctor is a prestigious position to hold. It is also the only profession which presented the same percentage – as the percentage of prestige – of affirmative answers when adults were asked whether they would like their children to pursue being a doctor. And why wouldn’t it be, considering that doctors save lives? It doesn’t hurt that they earn six-digit salaries either, which is why they have grabbed the number one spot on our list of the most respected jobs in America in 2017.