If you’re searching for a new career, you’ll likely consider factors such as benefits, pay, and hours. Most individuals don’t consider whether or not the job could end their marriage. The truth is that most people end up spending more time with their work-family than their own family. This does not make the claim that anyone is at fault, however, without a strong work-life balance, it is no surprise that one’s home life can become stressful.
Several studies conducted over the years conclude which jobs are the most stressful and which jobs have the highest divorce rates. For example, firefighters, police officers, and military personnel are among the most stressful, but in fact, did not have the highest divorce rates. Dispatchers, however, did have high divorce rates; as high as 46.6 percent. Half of all marriages already end in divorce, regardless of circumstances. If you don’t want your career to be the reason your marriage becomes a statistic, learn more about the top 25 jobs with the highest divorce rates.
The Highest Divorce Rates
- Gaming Managers (of casinos) – The divorce rate is 52.9%.
- Bartenders – This career has the second highest divorce rate and it’s no surprise. Listening to people’s problems can open the door to an affair. The divorce rate is 52.7%.
- Flight attendant – Being absent so often is challenging on a marriage. The divorce rate is 50.5%.
- Gaming service workers – Also related to casinos, the divorce rate is 50.3%.
- Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders – The divorce rate is 50.1%.
- Switchboard operators – With the average hourly wage being only $12.91 it’s no surprise these workers are unhappy. The divorce rate is 49.7%.
- Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders – Yet another factory job. The divorce rate is 49.6%.
- Telemarketers – The divorce rate is 49.2%.
- Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders – Any type of factory worker has high divorce rates. The divorce rate is 48.8%.
- Textile weaving and knitting machine operators – This monotonous and grueling career causes extreme unhappiness. The divorce rate is 48.9%.
- Phone operators – As the fastest declining career, a constant fear of losing the job can put a strain on a marriage. The divorce rate is 47.8%.
- Massage therapists – Spend a lot of time providing intimate touch. That kind of touch has an emotional effect on both parties. The divorce rate is 47.8%.
- Casino workers – These employees tend to struggle to keep their marriages intact. The divorce rate is 47.3%.
- Licensed nurses – Although nurses are known to have high empathy and compassion for their patients, they tend to struggle in their marriages. Divorce rates are as high as 47%.
- Supervisors of correctional officers – Similar to dispatchers, first-line supervisors of correctional officers experience a high level of stress, which makes them feel unhappy outside of work, including in their marriages. The divorce rate is 46.9%.
- Dancers/choreographers – For these professionals, marriages often suffer intimacy and communication, despite expressing their emotions through movement and art. The divorce rate is 46.8%.
- Dispatchers – Stress from their jobs makes dispatchers perceive their relationships more negatively, which could be a recipe for divorce. The divorce rate for dispatches is 46.6%.
- Entertainers, performers, and sports related workers – Ever wonder what the divorce rate is for big-wig celebrities? It’s 28.49%.
- Baggage porters and concierge – The divorce rate is 28.49%.
- Waiters/waitresses – The divorce rate is 27.12%.
The Lowest Divorce Rates
- Actuaries – 17%
- Physical scientists – 18.9%
- Medical and life scientists – 19.6%
- Clergy – 19.8%
- Software developers for applications and systems software – 20.3%
- Physical therapists – 20.7%
- Optometrists – 20.8%
- Chemical engineers – 21.1%
- Directors of religious activities and education – 21.3%
- Physicians and surgeons – 21.8%
Fortunately, there is a significant list of careers with low divorce rates. Although these may only be a statistic based, and some relationships do stand out even under these circumstances, the quality of your relationship is worth a thought when choosing a career.