| Table 7-16 |
| Public perceptions of prestige of various occupations: Selected years, 1977–2009 |
| (Percent saying "very great prestige") |
| |
| Occupation |
1977 |
1982 |
1992 |
1997 |
1998 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| |
| Firefighter |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
55 |
48 |
56 |
63 |
61 |
57 |
62 |
| Scientist |
66 |
59 |
57 |
51 |
55 |
56 |
53 |
51 |
57 |
52 |
56 |
54 |
54 |
56 |
57 |
| Doctor |
61 |
55 |
50 |
52 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
50 |
52 |
52 |
54 |
58 |
52 |
53 |
56 |
| Nurse |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
47 |
44 |
50 |
55 |
50 |
52 |
54 |
| Teacher |
29 |
28 |
41 |
49 |
53 |
53 |
54 |
47 |
49 |
48 |
47 |
52 |
54 |
52 |
51 |
| Military officer |
NA |
22 |
32 |
29 |
34 |
42 |
40 |
47 |
46 |
47 |
49 |
51 |
52 |
46 |
51 |
| Police officer |
NA |
NA |
34 |
36 |
41 |
38 |
37 |
40 |
42 |
40 |
40 |
43 |
46 |
46 |
44 |
| Priest/minister/clergy |
41 |
42 |
38 |
45 |
46 |
45 |
43 |
36 |
38 |
32 |
36 |
40 |
42 |
40 |
41 |
| Engineer |
34 |
30 |
37 |
32 |
34 |
32 |
36 |
34 |
28 |
29 |
34 |
34 |
30 |
40 |
39 |
| Farmer |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
36 |
41 |
41 |
36 |
| Architect |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
26 |
26 |
28 |
27 |
24 |
20 |
27 |
27 |
23 |
28 |
29 |
| Member of Congress |
NA |
NA |
24 |
23 |
25 |
33 |
24 |
27 |
30 |
31 |
26 |
28 |
26 |
28 |
28 |
| Lawyer |
36 |
30 |
25 |
19 |
23 |
21 |
18 |
15 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
| Business executive |
18 |
16 |
19 |
16 |
18 |
15 |
12 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
15 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
23 |
| Athlete |
26 |
20 |
18 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
21 |
17 |
21 |
23 |
23 |
16 |
20 |
21 |
| Journalist |
17 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
13 |
18 |
17 |
| Union leader |
NA |
NA |
12 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
12 |
13 |
18 |
17 |
| Entertainer |
18 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
17 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
| Banker |
17 |
17 |
17 |
15 |
18 |
15 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
17 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
| Actor |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
13 |
16 |
16 |
12 |
9 |
16 |
15 |
| Stockbroker |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
8 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
10 |
13 |
| Accountant |
NA |
13 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
15 |
10 |
13 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
11 |
| Real estate agent/broker |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
6 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
| |
NA = not available, question not asked
NOTES: Responses to I am going to read off a number of different occupations. For each, would you tell me if you feel it is an occupation of very great prestige, considerable prestige, some prestige, or hardly any prestige at all? Data reflect responses of "very great prestige."
SOURCE: Harris Interactive, Firefighters, Scientists, and Doctors Seen as Most Prestigious Occupations: Real Estate Brokers, Accountants, and Stockbrokers Are at the Bottom of the List. The Harris Poll (#86, 4 August 2009), http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris-Interactive-Poll-Research-Pres-Occupations-2009-08.pdf, accessed 7 February 2011.
Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 |
|