Find a Job You Really Want In
Life can be busy sometimes.
In fact, life can get so busy that one day you look up and realize that you’re 40 and single. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just part of life sometimes.
But maybe you’re not single because you were just so busy. Maybe it’s actually because of your job.
Instead of being wrapped up in a committed relationship with another person, perhaps you’ve been in a committed relationship with your job.
Rather than enjoying the close companionship of one partner, you have a healthy network of friends, acquaintances and coworkers.
So that got us thinking. What careers have people wrapped around their finger?
The Top 10 Jobs Most Likely To Leave You Single at 40
- Bartenders
- Hotel, Motel, And Resort Desk Clerks
- Food Processing Workers, All Other
- Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, And Reinforcing Iron And Rebar Workers
- Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop
- Graders And Sorters, Agricultural Products
- Actors
- Flight Attendants
- Cleaners Of Vehicles And Equipment
- Butchers And Other Meat, Poultry, And Fish Processing Workers
This is not to say that relationship people can’t be wrapped up in their work, too. We’re not even saying that all bartenders are single at 40.
It’s just that single people have a bit more time to devote to such things. And the Census data shows that most bartenders are, indeed, single at 40.
Single and Ready to…. Work
- Bartenders top the charts when it comes to being single at 40. In fact, 70% of bartenders are single at 40.
- Hotel Desk Clerks, Food Processing Workers, Brickmasons and Hosts, all ranked high as well, tying at 66%.
- The profession you’re least likely to be single at 40 is the Line Enlisted Military Supervisor career. With only 12% being single, you have a good chance of being in a relationship.
- There are five jobs where it could go either way. At 50% single, Cargo Agents, Tailors, Hairdressers, Pest Control Workers and Transportation Attendants are single at 40 only half the time.
- Flight Attendant is another profession that’s single. In fact, 62% of flight attendants are single at 40, but really it makes sense with all of that traveling.
How we figured this out
We analyzed data from the 2015-19 American Community Survey PUMS dataset.
We looked at all full-time workers aged 40 and ranked their professions by the percentage of workers who were single.
Single Life? More Like Married Life
- In addition to Military Supervisors, Clergy is another profession that ends a life of loneliness. Only 13% of Clergy end up single at 40.
- It turns out that people are attracted to military life. Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders as well as any military rank are both under 20% single at 40.
- Not surprisingly, Firefighters ranked low for being single at 40. There’s just something about a person who can run into a burning building for you.
- At only 16% single, Dentists are in the same boat as Firefighters. Apparently people love being able to add DDS to the end of their name.
- The only career that’s better than being a Firefighter or Dentist is being a Computer Network Architect. They’re only 15% single at 40. Nerds.
Summary of Jobs Where You’re Most Likely to Be Single at 40
Some jobs just keep you so busy that if you were to add another person to your life, you would never get to see them. Then there are those jobs where if you didn’t have another person in your life, you would definitely notice.
So if you’re looking to stay busy, you might want to check into bartending. But if you’re ready to settle down, check out the military. Really any of the jobs above would be helpful in either situation.
And just because 70% of bartenders are single, doesn’t mean you’ll be one of the 70%. The same goes for the opposite end of the spectrum. You might end up in a career hoping to stay single only to find yourself in a relationship.
Life is funny that way. It never turns out the way we plan for it too. But that’s what keeps things interesting.
Jobs Where You’re Most (and Least) Likely to Be Single
| Career | Single Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bartenders | 70% |
| Hotel, Motel, And Resort Desk Clerks | 66% |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 66% |
| Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, And Reinforcing Iron And Rebar Workers | 66% |
| Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop | 66% |
| Graders And Sorters, Agricultural Products | 65% |
| Actors | 64% |
| Flight Attendants | 62% |
| Cleaners Of Vehicles And Equipment | 62% |
| Butchers And Other Meat, Poultry, And Fish Processing Workers | 61% |
| Phlebotomists | 59% |
| Miscellaneous Food Preparation And Serving Related Workers, Including Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers | 59% |
| Baggage Porters, Bellhops, And Concierges | 59% |
| Industrial Truck And Tractor Operators | 58% |
| Dishwashers | 58% |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 57% |
| Massage Therapists | 56% |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility And Loan | 55% |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 54% |
| Telemarketers | 54% |
| Receptionists And Information Clerks | 54% |
| Jewelers And Precious Stone And Metal Workers | 53% |
| Tour And Travel Guides | 53% |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, And Samplers, Recordkeeping | 53% |
| Cargo And Freight Agents | 50% |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, And Sewers | 50% |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists | 50% |
| Pest Control Workers | 50% |
| Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants | 50% |
| Nonfarm Animal Caretakers | 49% |
| Recreational Therapists | 48% |
| First_Line Supervisors Of Food Preparation And Serving Workers | 48% |
| Cooks | 48% |
| Buyers And Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | 46% |
| Maintenance And Repair Workers, General | 46% |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, And Processing Machine Operators | 46% |
| Electrical, Electronics, And Electromechanical Assemblers | 46% |
| File Clerks | 45% |
| Information And Record Clerks, All Other | 45% |
| Word Processors And Typists | 45% |
| Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 44% |
| Printing Press Operators | 44% |
| Postal Service Clerks | 44% |
| Data Entry Keyers | 44% |
| Door Sales Workers, News And Street Vendors, And Related Workers | 44% |
| Packaging And Filling Machine Operators And Tenders | 44% |
| Radiation Therapists | 43% |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll And Timekeeping | 43% |
| Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 43% |
| Paralegals And Legal Assistants | 43% |
| Carpenters | 43% |
| Physical Therapist Assistants And Aides | 43% |
| Social And Human Service Assistants | 42% |
| Counter And Rental Clerks | 42% |
| Parts Salespersons | 42% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 41% |
| Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses | 41% |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 41% |
| Shipping, Receiving, And Traffic Clerks | 41% |
| Tax Examiners And Collectors, And Revenue Agents | 41% |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 41% |
| Agents And Business Managers Of Artists, Performers, And Athletes | 41% |
| Security Guards And Gaming Surveillance Officers | 41% |
| Parking Lot Attendants | 41% |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 40% |
| Electrical Power | 40% |
| Medical Assistants | 40% |
| Cabinetmakers And Bench Carpenters | 40% |
| Packers And Packagers, Hand | 40% |
| Billing And Posting Clerks | 40% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 40% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers And Fabricators | 40% |
| Transportation Security Screeners | 40% |
| Automotive Service Technicians And Mechanics | 40% |
| News Analysts, Reporters And Correspondents | 39% |
| Environmental Engineers | 39% |
| Construction Laborers | 39% |
| Bill And Account Collectors | 39% |
| Miscellaneous Office And Administrative Support Workers, Including Desktop Publishers | 39% |
| Driver/Sales Workers And Truck Drivers | 39% |
| Carpet, Floor, And Tile Installers And Finishers | 38% |
| Chefs And Head Cooks | 38% |
| Court, Municipal, And License Clerks | 38% |
| Postal Service Mail Carriers | 38% |
| Gaming Services Workers | 38% |
| Cashiers | 38% |
| Lodging Managers | 38% |
| Childcare Workers | 38% |
| Property, Real Estate, And Community Association Managers | 38% |
| Chemical Technicians | 38% |
| Laundry And Dry | 38% |
| Food Service Managers | 37% |
| Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, And Investigators | 37% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 37% |
| Retail Salespersons | 37% |
| Miscellaneous Vehicle And Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, And Repairers | 36% |
| Office Clerks, General | 36% |
| Other Therapists, Including Exercise Physiologists | 36% |
| Editors | 36% |
| Structural Iron And Steel Workers | 36% |
| Miscellaneous Social Scientists, Including Survey Researchers And Sociologists | 36% |
| Payroll And Timekeeping Clerks | 36% |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists And Technicians | 36% |
| Television, Video, And Motion Picture Camera Operators And Editors | 36% |
| Technical Writers | 36% |
| Audiologists | 36% |
| Bus And Truck Mechanics And Diesel Engine Specialists | 36% |
| Chemical Processing Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders | 35% |
| Sheet Metal Workers | 35% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other, Including Medical Equipment Preparers | 35% |
| Surveyors, Cartographers, And Photogrammetrists | 35% |
| Insurance Claims And Policy Processing Clerks | 35% |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | 35% |
| Couriers And Messengers | 35% |
| Bakers | 35% |
| Probation Officers And Correctional Treatment Specialists | 35% |
| Compensation, Benefits, And Job Analysis Specialists | 35% |
| Janitors And Building Cleaners | 35% |
| Tellers | 34% |
| Artists And Related Workers | 34% |
| Library Technicians | 34% |
| Producers And Directors | 34% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, And Auditing Clerks | 34% |
| Social And Community Service Managers | 34% |
| Electricians | 34% |
| Financial Examiners | 33% |
| Heavy Vehicle And Mobile Equipment Service Technicians And Mechanics | 33% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 33% |
| Urban And Regional Planners | 33% |
| Writers And Authors | 33% |
| Reservation And Transportation Ticket Agents And Travel Clerks | 33% |
| Photographers | 33% |
| Logisticians | 33% |
| Production, Planning, And Expediting Clerks | 32% |
| Preschool And Kindergarten Teachers | 32% |
| Archivists, Curators, And Museum Technicians | 32% |
| Advertising Sales Agents | 32% |
| Aircraft Mechanics And Service Technicians | 32% |
| Dental Assistants | 32% |
| Marine Engineers And Naval Architects | 32% |
| Loan Interviewers And Clerks | 32% |
| Welding, Soldering, And Brazing Workers | 32% |
| Line Supervisors Of Correctional Officers | 32% |
| Economists | 32% |
| Statistical Assistants | 32% |
| Training And Development Managers | 31% |
| Medical, Dental, And Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 31% |
| Credit Analysts | 31% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 31% |
| Line Supervisors Of Farming, Fishing, And Forestry Workers | 31% |
| Veterinarians | 31% |
| Registered Nurses | 31% |
| Line Supervisors Of Retail Sales Workers | 31% |
| Compliance Officers | 31% |
| Credit Counselors And Loan Officers | 31% |
| Astronomers And Physicists | 31% |
| Dietitians And Nutritionists | 31% |
| Meeting, Convention, And Event Planners | 31% |
| Sales And Related Workers, All Other | 31% |
| Radio And Telecommunications Equipment Installers And Repairers | 31% |
| Operations Research Analysts | 31% |
| Line Supervisors Of Office And Administrative Support Workers | 30% |
| Miscellaneous Law Enforcement Workers | 30% |
| Human Resources Workers | 30% |
| Barbers | 30% |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, And Farm Products | 30% |
| Compensation And Benefits Managers | 30% |
| Animal Trainers | 30% |
| Industrial And Refractory Machinery Mechanics | 30% |
| Miscellaneous Community And Social Service Specialists, Including Health Educators And Community Health Workers | 30% |
| Advertising And Promotions Managers | 30% |
| Line Supervisors Of Housekeeping And Janitorial Workers | 30% |
| Opticians, Dispensing | 30% |
| Correspondence Clerks And Order Clerks | 29% |
| Wholesale And Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 29% |
| Credit Authorizers, Checkers, And Clerks | 29% |
| Travel Agents | 29% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 29% |
| Respiratory Therapists | 29% |
| Public Relations And Fundraising Managers | 28% |
| Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers, Including Animal Breeders | 28% |
| Biological Scientists | 28% |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | 28% |
| Special Education Teachers | 28% |
| Line Supervisors Of Production And Operating Workers | 28% |
| Sales Representatives, Services, All Other | 28% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 28% |
| Medical And Health Services Managers | 28% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, And Weighers | 28% |
| Computer, Automated Teller, And Office Machine Repairers | 28% |
| Railroad Conductors And Yardmasters | 28% |
| Training And Development Specialists | 28% |
| Power Plant Operators, Distributors, And Dispatchers | 28% |
| Procurement Clerks | 28% |
| Line Supervisors Of Mechanics, Installers, And Repairers | 28% |
| Human Resources Managers | 27% |
| Dental Hygienists | 27% |
| Management Analysts | 27% |
| Physician Assistants | 27% |
| Telecommunications Line Installers And Repairers | 27% |
| Crushing, Grinding, Polishing, Mixing, And Blending Workers | 27% |
| Purchasing Managers | 27% |
| Market Research Analysts And Marketing Specialists | 27% |
| Private Detectives And Investigators | 27% |
| Accountants And Auditors | 27% |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Mechanics And Installers | 27% |
| Molders, Shapers, And Casters, Except Metal And Plastic | 27% |
| Tax Preparers | 27% |
| Chemists And Materials Scientists | 27% |
| Chemical Engineers | 27% |
| Morticians, Undertakers, And Funeral Directors | 27% |
| Agricultural Inspectors | 26% |
| Agricultural And Food Scientists | 26% |
| Computer Support Specialists | 26% |
| General And Operations Managers | 26% |
| Construction And Building Inspectors | 26% |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 26% |
| Real Estate Brokers And Sales Agents | 26% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 26% |
| Conservation Scientists And Foresters | 25% |
| Education Administrators | 25% |
| Fundraisers | 25% |
| Network And Computer Systems Administrators | 25% |
| Water And Wastewater Treatment Plant And System Operators | 25% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 25% |
| Optometrists | 25% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale And Manufacturing | 25% |
| Pharmacists | 25% |
| Nurse Practitioners, And Nurse Midwives | 25% |
| Photographic Process Workers And Processing Machine Operators | 25% |
| Materials Engineers | 25% |
| Biological Technicians | 25% |
| Machinists | 24% |
| Occupational Therapists | 24% |
| Precision Instrument And Equipment Repairers | 24% |
| Cost Estimators | 24% |
| Securities, Commodities, And Financial Services Sales Agents | 24% |
| Financial Managers | 24% |
| Medical Scientists, And Life Scientists, All Other | 24% |
| Lawyers, And Judges, Magistrates, And Other Judicial Workers | 24% |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 23% |
| Secondary School Teachers | 23% |
| Atmospheric And Space Scientists | 23% |
| Line Supervisors Of Construction Trades And Extraction Workers | 23% |
| Line Supervisors Of Non | 23% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 23% |
| Budget Analysts | 23% |
| Appraisers And Assessors Of Real Estate | 23% |
| Computer Programmers | 22% |
| Information Security Analysts | 22% |
| Petroleum, Mining And Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 22% |
| Physical Therapists | 22% |
| Security And Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 22% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 22% |
| Construction Managers | 22% |
| Language Pathologists | 21% |
| Stationary Engineers And Boiler Operators | 21% |
| Miscellaneous Engineers, Including Nuclear Engineers | 21% |
| Computer And Information Research Scientists | 21% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, And Other Agricultural Managers | 21% |
| Transportation Inspectors | 21% |
| Industrial Engineers, Including Health And Safety | 21% |
| Podiatrists | 21% |
| Transportation, Storage, And Distribution Managers | 20% |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | 20% |
| Civil Engineers | 20% |
| Air Traffic Controllers And Airfield Operations Specialists | 19% |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 19% |
| First_Line Supervisors Of Fire Fighting And Prevention Workers | 19% |
| Detectives And Criminal Investigators | 19% |
| Line Supervisors Of Landscaping, Lawn Service, And Groundskeeping Workers | 19% |
| Miscellaneous Mathematical Science Occupations, Including Mathematicians And Statisticians | 19% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 19% |
| Military, Rank Not Specified ** | 18% |
| Chief Executives And Legislators | 18% |
| Sales Engineers | 17% |
| Agricultural And Food Science Technicians | 17% |
| Electrical And Electronics Engineers | 17% |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 17% |
| First_Line Supervisors Of Police And Detectives | 17% |
| Aircraft Pilots And Flight Engineers | 17% |
| Directors, Religious Activities And Education | 17% |
| Dentists | 16% |
| Firefighters | 16% |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | 16% |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 16% |
| Computer Network Architects | 15% |
| Chiropractors | 14% |
| Actuaries | 14% |
| Military Officer Special And Tactical Operations Leaders | 14% |
| Clergy | 13% |
| Line Enlisted Military Supervisors | 12% |
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.
Author
Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.
