Study Reveals Top Loneliest Jobs In America

A report from Solitaired, an online gaming platform, ranked the roles that are most likely to leave you craving social interaction; they were literally determining the lonliest jobs in America. In this study, they analyzed over 750,000 job posts representing more than 1,200 titles in 30 industries on Indeed. They searched each job post for indicators that the work could be “lonely.” For instance, if it requires independence, self-reliance, and a general ability to work alone.

According to their data, the loneliest job is a Task Associate. This is a job that typically requires restocking shelves at stores. The study mentions that this role can be customer-facing. However, the interactions are usually brief. Rounding out the rest of the top loneliest jobs list are Senior Paralegal, Manual Machinist, Field Sales Representative, and Corporate Paralegal.

Out of the top 20 loneliest jobs, five are senior-level positions, which may mean some career fields get lonelier the higher you climb the ladder.

In addition to the loneliest job roles, they set out to find which industries are most likely to face less productivity and even increased spending on physical and mental health care. In first place is the government and public administration industry. They said workers typically spend their days planning and performing tasks concerning national security, revenue and taxation, regulations, and more.

The second loneliest industry is law, public safety, and corrections. In this industry, job tasks include providing legal, public safety, and protective services. In third place is the environmental industry. The platform notes that while this does not mean all jobs in these industries will leave you feeling isolated, these are simply the industries that have the most job postings that could result in feelings of loneliness.

On the other hand, they emphasize that people working military jobs are the least likely to experience loneliness. Other industries that offer more companionship include hospitality and tourism, food and beverage, and automotive.

Regardless of an industry’s loneliness ranking, they found other jobs that can leave people feeling isolated. In the advertising and marketing industry, photographers are typically the loneliest. “For some people, this solo style of work is where they thrive, but for others, it leaves them seeking more in-person interactions,” they wrote.

While the gaming industry spends a lot of time working with others, store managers are the most likely to feel isolated on the job.

A way to combat loneliness at work is to use small opportunities to catch up with colleagues, whether in person or virtually.

Check out the full breakdown of the loneliest jobs in the U.S. here.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."