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The Rate of Depression Among Different Professions

A major depressive episode is a serious mood disorder in which a person feels frustrated, hopeless, angry or blue for a period of two weeks or more. Although anyone can become depressed, there are a number of predictive factors. For example, women are three times more likely to be treated for depression than men. The type of jobs people hold can also influence the likelihood that they will become depressed.

  1. Personal Care and Service

    • Beauticians, massage therapists, cosmetologists, personal trainers and child care workers all fall into the job category of personal care and service. Individuals in these professions have the highest rate of depression, with 10.8 percent reporting a major depressive episode every year, according to an October 2007 report by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Food Preparation and Serving Related

    • Per the SAMHSA report, chefs, waiters, waitresses, restaurant hosts and hostesses and fast food workers report a 10.3 percent depression rate each year, the next-highest rate after personal care and service workers.

    Community and Social Services

    • Social workers, community organizers, therapists and religious workers are considered community and social service-oriented professionals. These careers report a 9.6 percent yearly incidence of depression, according to the report.

    Health Care Practitioners and Technical

    • Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and other workers involved in health care have a high rate of depression, with 9.6 percent reporting at least one major depressive episode each year. This high depression rate is usually attributed to the stressful nature of their work.

    Education, Training and Library

    • Teachers, librarians, college professors and other educators have a depression rate of 8.7 percent per year. Many educators cite feeling unappreciated during a depressive episode.

    Custodial, Gardening and Maintenance

    • Custodians, housekeepers, gardeners, landscapers and other maintenance workers report a depression rate of 7.3 percent yearly. In general, the more dramatic the socioeconomic difference between the employer and employee, the greater the chances of depression become.

    Sales and Related

    • Individuals who work in retail or sales report a depression rate of 6.7 percent each year. Although retail jobs may not be as stressful as some of those already mentioned, they typically pay very little and do not always offer desirable hours.

    Legal

    • Lawyers, judges and legal assistants report a depression incidence rate of 6.4 percent each year. In most cases, their depression is related to the elevated stress levels caused by their work.

    Protective Service

    • Police officers, sheriff's deputies, federal agents and bodyguards are all considered protection professionals. Despite the risky nature of their work, they report only a 4.8 percent depression rate each year.

    Installation, Maintenance and Repair

    • Plumbers, electricians and repair personnel have one of the lowest depression rates among all professions, with only 4.4 percent reporting a major depressive episode each year.

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