Comments on: Why You Should Learn Math: Mathematicians Have the Best Job

By: Keith Krugerud

Keith Krugerud — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:33:38 +0000

Let's get down to the Truth, however:

A Ph.D. in mathematics usually is the minimum educational requirement, except in the Federal Government.
Master’s degree and Ph.D. holders with a strong background in mathematics and a related field, such as computer science or engineering, should have better employment opportunities in related occupations.
Average employment growth is expected for mathematicians.

By: Zurg

Zurg — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:13:12 +0000

You forgot to put mythbuster

By: Staxeon

Staxeon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:55:58 +0000

I call shenanigans on this list.

School Principal is 15 spots "better" than an Optomologist?

By: Gabi

Gabi — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:08:59 +0000

How many were involved in the undertaking before a consensus was taken on this list? Doctors, physical trainers, psychologists...many can attest to the fact that physical activity would boost satisfaction rather than decrease it. Why else are so many offices beginning to build gyms in their offices?

I have experience both in film editing and now as a scenic painter. The job field was more open as an editer, the pay was significantly higher...and yeah, that bit about the toxic fumes and physical labor are more prevalent in painting than in computer work but... I am vastly more satisfied painting than sitting.

This is a decent list...just the wrong categories. Best and worst are adjectives too broad to be determined objectively.

By: Llama

Llama — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:32:03 +0000

So I'm a dairy farmer-no not born into it and its pretty sweet. I hate math too. Go figure. It's more about whats best and worst for each person.

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:21:27 +0000

I'm on the fence regarding this list. If physical work and using most of your body to get the job done is a problem then sure this list looks like it's accurate. However, if you're the type who can't sit at a desk and zone out until lunch or 5pm then this is a list of nightmares.

By: MrPumpernickel

MrPumpernickel — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:03:39 +0000

Ninth place, not too bad...and to think I was *that* close to becoming a construction worker instead.

By: toodleoo

toodleoo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:53:55 +0000

Wait. I KNEW it was the other way around. Blast!

By: toodleoo

toodleoo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:52:54 +0000

Okay, someone had to say this:

"Iiii'm alumberjackandI'm O-KAY! I sleep all night and I work all day!!!"

Thanks. I'll be here all week.

By: Shen

Shen — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:59:40 +0000

HAHA! And to think most of the people i knew at school wanted to become either Welders or Nurses!
Seriously, i find these very popular in choices, but the best jobs are those the person is really enjoying his/her time doing so.
I'm as confused as you are JM! Philosophers!? what a useless job! i mean, do we really need people who ponders about weither a tree falling with no one around makes a sound or not?

By: Scooter

Scooter — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:38:42 +0000

Where's Librarian? I'm defiantly having more fun at this job then being a Assistant Manager at a restaurant. Less physical activity sure but a lot less stress.

By: sunny

sunny — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:36:01 +0000

I don't think its that bad being a child care worker. I loved bgein with the kids. Sure the pay isn't reat and it can be stressful at times. My favorite part of the job was being greeted with hugs in the morning. I miss my kids

By: Christophe

Christophe — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:52:09 +0000

Nuclear Decontamination tech is better than lumberjack?

By: WillF

WillF — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:29:23 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roustabout

By: nolamomma

nolamomma — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:02:44 +0000

Lumberjack is 200? I always heard that being a lumberjack was ok. They sleep all night and work all day. They even go to the lavatory. On Wednesdays they go shopping, and have buttered scones for tea.

By: Jess

Jess — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:52:38 +0000

Echoing JM....what in the heck is a roustabout??

By: -H

-H — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:41:35 +0000

Well, obviously the Statisticians and Actuarians(?) have over-compensated during their interviews. I know many statisticians and almost all of them are bored to death after the first few years on the job.

-H

By: David Govett

David Govett — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:52:32 +0000

Do mathematicians count?

By: JM

JM — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:36:40 +0000

What the heck is a "roustabout"? Is it a homeless beggar?

By: AnnaBanana

AnnaBanana — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:09:51 +0000

OK. I am an accountant, which this list says is number 10. I used to be in construction (residential), and was 50 times happier there than I could ever be in this job. The pay was just a tad less, and yet it was a way more satisfying job on an emotional level. If the economy wasn't so bad, I would be back out in the field in a heartbeat!

By: gtron

gtron — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:43:39 +0000

philosopher at #12?!?! philosophers get paid?!?!

By: Skipweasel

Skipweasel — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:31:36 +0000

It's someone else's idea of what's good - of course it doesn't reflect reality. If it did, we'd not need shops, choice, different sorts of anything, we'd all be like her. Or me.

By: mother theresa

mother theresa — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:08:44 +0000

Med lab tech as #16??? Good heavens...that field is one of the most shat-upon in all of medicine. No respect from ANYONE and pays less than an RN. All because we're "hidden" from the patient's view and blamed for all sorts of mishaps that other departments cause (read: lab makes one helluva scapegoat). This list-maker needs to go back to the drawing board. Yikes.

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:37:41 +0000

I'm glad I'm not a seaman.

By: MikeH

MikeH — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:52:11 +0000

After spending years attaining a degree in Actuarial Science (because one of these stupid lists talked about how great a job it was) and passing several very rigorous exams, in the end it didn't matter, because there were so few jobs available. Of my four actuarial science major buddies, none of us got jobs as actuaries. My advice is to ignore this list and pursue studies in a discipline where there are actually jobs.

By: yosh hash

yosh hash — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:45:37 +0000

I think Les Krantz has a lot to learn about what genuine job satisfaction! Many of the things he lists as negative traits- lifting, bending, crawling are not only fun but vital to life! Sedentary is not necessarily a good thing, desk workers report more chronic back pain than construction workers! His ranking system does not include happiness, job satisfaction, all the things that really matter.

By: Idil

Idil — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:26:29 +0000

What??! Where's the surgeon and the lawyer?

By: Camilla

Camilla — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:39:16 +0000

I never wanted to be a mathematician.

I wanted to be... a lumberjack! Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia.

By: darlzwik

darlzwik — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:01:31 +0000

"What a hideous colour khaki is,"..... "My word," said Lenina, "I'm glad I'm not a Gamma."

By: meg

meg — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:53:56 +0000

Funny, I know many people on both ends of the list, and the people on the top seem to be a lot more dissatisfied with life in general. Maybe it's because the people in the jobs at the bottom of the list know how to separate life and work. Also: dairy farmer? Really? Legit dairy farmer? You can't get into that position if your life depends on it unless you're born into it or have obscene amounts of start-up money, but even though they work very hard, it's hard to find a more fun group. Assuming you find heifers fun. I'm also pretty sure our society wouldn't be at a huge loss if we had a few less philosophers, historians, or MPEs, but if we had fewer mail carriers, garbage men, firefighters, construction workers...society wouldn't BE society.