The Jobs That Will Bring You Satisfaction—No Matter How Much You Make

If you don’t make enough money to pay your bills, even the most satisfying job won’t make you happy enough to ignore financial reality. That said, chasing money for its own sake is also a professional and emotional dead end.

The best-case scenario is the job that covers expenses and feeds your spirit. The good news is that there are jobs at all income levels and educational requirements that offer high meaning and high job satisfaction … if you know where to look.

For a recent Money magazine feature, PayScale found the jobs with high satisfaction and meaning ratings at income levels ranging from $25,000 and under, to $200,000 and up, in a variety of industries, including education and healthcare.

The full list is over at Money; these are a few selected highlights, starting with those jobs that offer high meaning and job satisfaction, but lower earning potential:

$25,000 and Under

1. Embroiderer

Median annual earnings: $24,100

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 76%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 32%

2. Florist

Median annual earnings: $24,800

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 72%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 44%

3. Therapeutic Activity Assistant

Median annual earnings: $24,600

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 72%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 79%

4. Teaching Assistant

Median annual earnings: $23,500

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 72%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 67%

5. (tie) Certified Medication Aide

Median annual earnings: $24,700

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 71%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 76%

5. (tie) Special Education Paraprofessional

Median annual earnings: $24,100

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 71%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 80%

5. (tie) Education Paraprofessional

Median annual earnings: $23,000

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 71%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 80%

A bit further up the list, we have jobs that earn about or more than the median household income ($56,500 in 2014, according to the most recent data):

$50,000 to $75,000

1. Senior Pastor

Median annual earnings: $58,000

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 95%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 98%

2. Fire Captain

Median annual earnings: $60,700

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 95%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 95%

3. Certified Diabetes Educator

Median annual earnings: $63,700

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 94%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 97%

4. Executive Pastor

Median annual earnings: $60,900

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 91%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 97%

5. Executive Director

Median annual earnings: $74,400

Percentage who are “fairly” or “extremely” satisfied with their jobs: 89%

Percentage who think their job makes the world a better place: 89%

For other high-satisfaction jobs, including those that make $200,000 or more per year, see Money magazine’s story.

Tell Us What You Think

Did you job make the list—and if so, do you find it satisfying? Talk to us on Twitter or leave a comment.