We generally look for dream jobs that aren't overly stressful or pay really well, but there's another factor that should be considered: feeling like you make a difference. This list ranks over 200 different occupations not on how big the salary is, but on how meaningful these jobs feel to the people that work them.
If you're just starting college, or looking to switch gears in your professional life, this list might be able to help. The list, from PayScale.com, is based on a massive survey and one question that everyone surveyed is asked: Do you feel like your job makes the world a better place? It only counted if they answered a resounding "yes." Here are the top five:
Pastoral Ministry: 93%
Nursing: 83%
Clinical Laboratory Science: 83%
Child Development: 80%
Athletic Training, Early Childhood Education, Sports Medicine, Medical Technology: 78%
That means that 93 percent of all pastors and ministers believe they are doing good in the world, which should come as no surprise. Take this list with a grain of salt, however. Whether your job has meaning or not is entirely up to you and your perspective. The lowest occupations on this list are artistic ventures, but that doesn't mean it it's not meaningful to you, or that you can't make a difference with what you do. If you're passionate about something and you think you can make a living doing it, there's no reason not to try.
One trend that's clearly visible, though, is that occupations that try to help people or children give those workers a high sense of purpose. So if you're looking to make a difference with your job, it can never hurt to start there. See the complete list at the link below.
Most and Least Meaningful College Majors | PayScale via Business Insider