December 31, 2007
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Job of Status
Certain jobs used to have a certain status to them. It used to be that people told their kids they could be president when they grow up. I don’t hear anyone telling a kid that anymore.
It used to be that people would talk about being a doctor or lawyer. Doctors have high insurance so less men are going into the field because it doesn’t appear to be a money maker for the effort. Lawyers are the butt of just about every joke imaginable.
What would you consider to be a high status job?
Comments (101)
Being Me
Don’t get me started on the doctor/lawyer thing. That is ALL I heard growing up, to the point where it seemed there were no other valid jobs out there, unless the other job involved being a trillionaire or president.
I think Doctor, high level executive, senator/congressman/mayor/governor, large business owner and investment banker fall under high status jobs.
filmmaker.
A Colonel in the United States Army…
Seems as if even being the CEO of a major corporation has its turmoil these days.
In my area, high tech careers and high military are held with a lot of respect.
Or a General!
I’m with cotaroba… Military/Ministry are the two highest and most repsectable jobs there are.
Any job where you are providing for your family and working hard is a “high status” job in my opinion.
High status… I think the highest status jobs revolve a bit around luck as well as talent. Computer-ish things… If you could come up with ideas like Google and Facebook and have that just take off…
and of course, the entertainment industry. Not only the obvious jobs like actors and things… but magazine cheif editors, top advertisement people…
What do I know, I just want to be a nurse.
Personally, I don’t think there is any more “job” that has a higher status of than being a mother. It is what I wanted and achieved and have enjoyed the most.
JK Rowling
Being a good family man and provider. Making honest money in an honorable way. The rest is just a bonus.
I agree with Aslans_daughter. Other than mother, I would say any sort of scientific/medical research. Diaper Woman notwithstanding, I think astronauts are still held in high regard, also.
I actually think that lawyers/doctors still carry high-status ranks. Aside from the money, it takes a lot of effort, intellegence, and diligence to be able to pass through both subject schools. Furthermore, any kind of Doctorate or even Master’s degree carries a high status, in my opinion.
Computer/scientific research. Academia.
It used to be that if you were an auto executive in Michigan, you were highly respected and successful. Now, you’re just waiting to be out of a job, if you aren’t already.
I’d prefer “prestige”. . .
If we’re talking prestige, I think it would be
1) Someone who is in control (self-employed, their own boss, not a slave in the service of another)
2) Who makes an output that people want or need. They benefit because of said person. . .
I would say this is an Artist!
Scientist.
President of a corporation.
Status doesn’t concern me much these days. Personally I’d love to have a lowely job where I got paid big bucks to be say…a sleep technician. Yeah it’d be great. I figure I could come into work, clock in, and then go to sleep. Once I woke up, I’d tell someone how I slept, clock out, and go home again.
“It used to be that if you were an auto executive in Michigan, you were
highly respected and successful. Now, you’re just waiting to be out of
a job, if you aren’t already.”
Bwahahahahaha – MICHIGAN IS SO FUCKING SHITTY!
I agree with the mom comment – *patting self on back*
I hear “firefigher” a lot, that seems to be the newest “high status” job.
And video games. My brother attempted school in it and my eldest says he wants to make video games when he grows up. Or be a rock star.
Just as long as he doesn’t say he wants to grow up to be Paris Hilton.
a Vet :]
King of the UNIVERSE!!!!
With the doctor thing.. my mom is an RN – talk about a lot of work just to do that, sheesh!! Good for them.
if there weren’t lawyers around, a lot of people would be screwed by insurance companies or be trapped by the loopholes of the law. doctors are worth it. they can save the sick children. being an engineer is a high-paying job too. But hey, not everyone’s in it for the big bucks.
- Monte
ummmm… college professor. in one of those fancy colleges with the edumacation an all that. i don’t effing know, man!
RYC: yes, i’m even better than before
the recovery was hell, but i’m awesome now, haha, thanks 
and i think teachers are getting to be a higher status, but a lower paid job.
All my dad wants is a doctor in the family. My one brother got a degree in buisness and the other one dropped out of highschool and then college…
Guess who is being pressured to be a doctor…
>.> I say do what is going to make you happy, dont listen to anyone else.
High profile? I still heard doctor, lawyer, president, billionaire.
All i want to do is open a little used book store in a city…. ;_;
Doctor, scientist or business exec…
Depends on who’s “HIGH STATUS” you are refering to, God’s or man’s. Big difference there. Man’s motives for STATUS is selfish. God’s motive for STATUS is servant.
I always tell the boys they will be president some day.
I think the health care industry – Doctor’s ,Pharmacists,Nurses, Techs should be applauded it’s not easy you have to love it to be in it for the rest of your lives.
I am working my bootie off to try to gain a good paying job in the medical field and believe me after 6-8 years of being in school in this very highly competitive field I’ll consider my job to be high status.
- Lawyers , Doctors, Pharmacists – in a highly competitve field (this includes Pre-reqs – LSATS, MCATS, PCATS and interview process at schools that really invite you for interviews not only because you have met the pre-requirements but because they want your supplemental fee….believe me its torture I am going through it right now!!!!
I respect all other fields of employment. But I think that any job that you have worked hard towards achieving whether academically or professionally it should be considered HIGH STATUS in its own way.
Working for Google.
Computer stuff. Video game industry. And doctors and lawyers are still high status, though not as much as they used to be. CEOs. President.
I would think it would be someone in the field of computers. They are everywhere!
An ivy league professor, some scientists…
Yay for lifeneedsprotection! You just made me feel all…statusyfull.
Independant Business Owner. THAT is an accomplishment in this day and age.
College president, investment banker, and CEO of a company (well, a successful company).
RYC: I was jk, I’ll probably sip the champagne though.
I like to know about world events and such…I like to be informed. Sometimes I do wish I could just not care…but my curiosity and thirst is too much.
Scientists and writers (the ones who make their entire living from writing)
psychiatrist.
Investment brokers, socialites, public representatives for high profile companies- nothing that contributes to society.
personally a doctor or surgeon [but not plastic]… perhaps a CEO…
Being guardian of the ring like Mr.Frodo.
medical and health professions
dentist, nurse/doctor
firefighters, lawers/judges and teachers/tutors are some more
This is going to sound terrible–A Celebrity. Seriously you are loved and talked about, and get paid good money doing stuff they don’t teach you in school.
Corporate execs, particularly CEOs and CFOs. Specialist doctors (endocrinologists, etc.), rocket scientists/astronauts, neurosurgeons, translators, politicians (high level), athletes (unfortunately), entertainers- mostly singers/actors (unfortunately), esteemed university professors (like at Harvard, Oxford, etc.), and, the highest status of all, the welfare recipient.
Engineers, scientists, medical doctors, pharmacists…
I still say M.D’s are my top.
science, researching cures for diseases, trying to prevent global warming.
I’m not answering the question asked and I know that just kills a lot of the people who comment here. But, who cares about status? I’ll do anything that provides for my family as long as it is not illegal, immoral or dishonest. Status, etc. would only be a slight bonus, and very slight at that.
Doing a job that makes a difference in people’s lives for the better.
being Donald Trump, or Robert Kiyosaki. I don’t really know what EITHER one do, but I know they have a ton of money.
The job doesn’t make a respectable person. There are assholes in every field…
I don’t know any more…….
I like RdKings answer up there!!!
I don’t know about status, but I think computers is still the way to go if you want riches. I think any job you are HAPPY doing is a good one. 
RYC: I was dropping the dd off at her friends house in a Ritzy neighborhood, & saw a van with a sign on it for Holiday/Special event decorating……. I thought to myself, I Could DO That!!! 
Rockstar.
Duh.
“The job doesn’t make a respectable person. There are assholes in every field…” – hello_insanity
amen to that!
Paris Hilton. Whatever it is that she does.
I think people don’t tell their kids that they can grow up to be president anymore because they somehow know that we really do have a class based society now and more than that, we are ruled by an elite that only allows certain people in.
I believe that the military is high status job as are many blue collar jobs. Yes, there are still a lot of people who still look down on them but if people were honest with themselves they would see that most of those people have a greater impact on the continued functionality than really any white collar job.
The entertainment industry and professional sports people seem to have the most status these days.
According to the world–
professional athlete, film actor or actress, pop music celebrity, fashion model, TV show host, celebrity mega church pastor, celebrity author, big media “journalist”
According to God–
any morally upright occupation consciously, deliberately, and daily pursued with the full intent of honoring God and family, and sacrificially serving others
i agree with perseykhad.
Opera singer.. hehe.
Rolling burritos at Moe’s
Executive Chef.
Just popping in to wish you a Happy New Year!
Something to do with entertainment. Sports or acting.
Oprah. Orpah is status.
Doctor; engineer; CEO, president or vice-president of a company; architect; chairman of something important; banker; university professor; research scientist; general, colonel or other high-ranking position in the military; pastor of a large church; celebrities.
Some sort of computer job. Military. High-level corporate something or other. Brain surgeon.
Rock Star. o__o
Workin’… at Google.
exotic dancer
Mother, teacher, nurse, father, firefighter.
Also, family dog. In our house at least, the dog demands to be at the center of everything that is going on. As I type she is in my lap sniffing her approval as I type.
Judge, congressman, CEO, brain surgeon…
Lawyers and doctors are still up there, but depends on what you do.
It took me till after my undergrad and 2 semesters into my masters to realize that I should’ve followed my dream and become a video game designer. Oops. Oh well.
Parenting
Corporate executives seem to get a lot of press these days, not always for the best reasons but I think I have noticed a bit of glamour or status associated with being high on the corporate ladder.
Computer scientists and dot-com executives also seem to have some status these days.
I think doctors still get respect, too.
People in the entertainment industry have some status, too.
CEO or president of a company.
I’m gonna say Military Personnel.
I want to go into Early Intervention Therapy for Children with Autism – in my books, that’s a high status job even though you don’t make much money. You make a difference. Sometimes that’s what matters.
One that is not really worth having because it would take you away fom family. If you look at what is high status, thse people are working even when they are home. Some things just don’t mix. I would rather have the status of my family.
Minister or Social Worker
Other than being a mom, I think a teacher is probably a pretty “high status” job.
Anything having to do with computer science.
I.T.
I have a high-tech job. Too bad the pay isn’t quite up there with the “status” ascribed to it!
I would have to say corporates (CEOs CFOs presidents etc), engineers, national politician, anyone in finance, basically the people who are making the most money (arguably) for minimal work.
I agree being a mom should get alot more praise than it does.
I also think the military. I know what my husband does everyday deserves more credit.
Mother, Father, CEO are the first ones that come to mind.
CEO of a big corporation
teacher/minister
both are held to a ridiculously high standard/expectations
and both hold delicate futures in their hands
Anything in public service…..its always a challenge working w the public
anything that you do just because you love it.
Pastor?
Neurosurgeon.
I wonder if an Assistant Auditor General – someone who audits the government – is considered a high-status job. That’s what I do.
^ I’m guessing not.
To me a job of statis is to have one you like doing.
Almost high tech career and doctors.
Engineering. Particularly Electrical Engineering.