Who Do We Respect?
Poll shows little correlation between money and prestige

Americans see scientists, firemen, doctors, teachers and nurses as the professions and occupations which have the most prestige.

In fact, only three occupations are perceived to have “very great” prestige by more than half of all adults: scientists (57 percent), firemen (55 percent) and doctors (52 percent). They are followed by four professions perceived to have “very great” prestige: teachers (49 percent), nurses (47 percent), military officers (46 percent) and police officers (42 percent).

The lowest ratings go to real estate agents (six percent), stockbrokers (eight percent), actors (13 percent), bankers (14 percent), accountants (15 percent) and union leaders (15 percent).

These are some of the results of the annual Harris Poll measuring public perceptions of 22 professions and occupations.

There is not much of a correlation between making money and having high prestige. Firemen, teachers, nurses and police officers all score very well on prestige but are not particularly well compensated. At the other end of the spectrum, real estate agents, stockbrokers, actors, bankers and accountants can often make substantial sums of money, but have little prestige.

It is also clear that prestige does not mean celebrity. Most celebrities are probably actors, entertainers or athletes; and all of these are in the bottom half of the list in terms of prestige.

To judge from these data, it seems that prestige is strongly associated with respect. Professions with high prestige are those that are widely seen to do great work that benefits society and the people they serve.

Harris Interactive has been asking about the prestige of different professions and occupations since 1977. Over the 26 years since then there have been some quite substantial changes:

• Those who see teachers as having “very great” prestige have risen 20 points from 29 percent to 49 percent.
• Those who think lawyers have “very great” prestige have fallen 19 points, from 36 percent to 17 percent.
• Scientists have fallen nine points from 66 percent to 57 percent.
• Doctors have also fallen nine points from 61 percent to 52 percent.
• Athletes have also fallen nine points from 26 percent to 17 percent.

With the exception of teachers, no occupation or profession on the list has improved its ratings since 1977.

Humphrey Taylor is the chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive.
editorial@lanereport.com

Back to Harris Poll Index

Back to November Issue

Copyright 1996-2003, by Kentucky Business Online.  All rights reserved.

Editorial content is copyright 2003, Lane Communications Group
All editorial material is fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without prior permission.

The Lane Report is a trademark of Lane Communications Group.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.