CHICAGO — Firefighters have one of the highest job satisfaction rates in the United States, according to a report from the University of Chicago. The 2006 survey found that overall firefighters experience job satisfaction 80 percent of the time. Rounding out the top three most satisfactory positions were clergy (87 percent reporting being very satisfied) and physical therapists (78 percent).

"The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching, and protecting others and creative pursuits," said Tom W. Smith, Director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago."The least satisfying dozen jobs are mostly low-skill, manual and service occupations, especially involving customer service and food/beverage preparation and serving."

The least satisfying jobs were held by roofers, with only 25 percent of them saying they found their job satisfying. Other low satisfaction jobs were held by waiters and servers, bartenders, apparel clothing salespersons, cashiers, customer service representatives, butchers and meat cutters, and furniture and home furnishing salespersons.

Across all occupations, on average, 47 percent of people said they were very satisfied with their jobs and 33 percent said they were very happy.

Previous studies had shown that job satisfaction increases with prestige or social standings. However, according to Smith, some such as doctors and lawyers, did not make the list of the top twelve most satisfied or happy since they involve great responsibility and large opportunities for stress.