In the current study, interviewers asked more than 27,000 people questions about job satisfaction and general happiness. Individuals' level of contentment affects their overall sense of happiness, Smith said.

"Work occupies a large part of each worker's day; is one's main source of social standing and helps to define who a person is and affects one's health both physically and mentally," Smith states in a published report on the study. "Because of work's central role in many people's lives, satisfaction with one's job is an important component in overall well-being."

Across all occupations, on average 47 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with their jobs and 33 percent reported being very happy.

Here are the Top 10 most gratifying jobs and the percentage of subjects who said they were very satisfied with the job:

Clergy-87 percent 

Firefighters-80 percent 

Physical therapists-78 percent 

Authors-74 percent 

Special education teachers-70 percent

Teachers-69 percent 

Education administrators-68 percent 

Painters and sculptors-67 percent 

Psychologists-67 percent 

Security and financial services salespersons-65 percent 

Operating engineers-64 percent 

Office supervisors-61 percent

A few common jobs in which about 50 percent of participants reported high satisfaction included: police and detectives, registered nurses, accountants, and editors and reporters.

"The least satisfying dozen jobs are mostly low-skill, manual and service occupations, especially involving customer service and food/beverage preparation and serving," Smith said.

据美国一项全国性调查的结果显示，消防员、牧师等从事帮助或服务于他人的行业的人员工作满意度较高，而且总体上他们比其它行业的人更加快乐。

芝加哥大学全国民意调查中心普通社会调查的负责人汤姆·史密斯说：“满意度最高的工作大多是一些需要特殊技能的职业，尤其是护理类、教育类、为他人提供保护以及一些创造性的职业。”

在目前的这项调查中，调查人员对2万7千人就工作满意度和总体快乐感进行了访问。据史密斯介绍，受访者的工作满意度对他们的总体快乐感有影响。

史密斯在发表的研究报告中说：“工作占据了一个人一天中的大部分，它是一个人社会地位的主要决定因素，而且能‘定义’一个人，在生理和心理上都会对人造成影响。由于工作在很多人的生活中处于核心地位，因此对于工作的满意是生活幸福的一个重要因素。”

在所有职业中，平均47%的受访者表示对自己的工作满意，33%的人称他们非常快乐。

以下是十大最令人满意的工作及对此工作感到满意的人数百分比：

神职人员--87%

消防员--80%

身体治疗师--78%

作家--74%

特殊教育类的教师--70%

教师--69%

教育行政人员--68%

画家和雕塑家--67%

心理学家--67%

安全人员及金融服务销售人员--65%

操作工程师--64%

办公室管理人员--61%

在普通职业中，有50%的受访者对警察和侦探、注册护士、会计、编辑和记者等职业的满意度很高。

史密斯说：“满意度最低的工作大多是一些技能要求低、手工和服务类的职业，尤其是顾客服务和餐饮准备及服务的职业。”