Business

The top 15 jobs people want to quit the most, according to a recent survey

(KTLA) – The results of a recent survey suggest that some of us can’t wait to leave our current jobs.

The poll, conducted by the software firm Payscale, identified the top 15 jobs workers are planning to quit partially due to stressful work environments, return-to-office mandates, low compensation packages and the current state of the economy.

Workers in industries ranging from tech to healthcare dominated the list, even with some of these positions boasting median salaries of over six figures.


BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.

While some respondents indicated they hoped to find work in other professions or fields, many were simply seeking to leave their jobs for identical or similar roles at other companies, where there may be better compensation, benefits, or work-life balance. Payscale also noted that the “expansion of pay transparency legislation” may have given some of these employees a peek at the salaries they could earn for the same job elsewhere, inspiring them to jump ship.

“Regardless, these jobs represent occupations where employees are stressed, underchallenged, burned out, or unhappy with their pay and benefits compared to what they think they can get elsewhere,” reads a portion of Payscale’s 2023 End-of-Year Job Market Report.

The top 15 jobs workers are planning to quit, according to Payscale’s survey

  1. Senior product manager: 66% seeking a new job; $144,000 median pay
  2. Phlebotomist: 62% seeking a new job; $39,300 median pay
  3. Line cook: 62% seeking a new job; $32,200 median pay
  4. Patient care technician: 61% seeking a new job; $37,700 median pay
  5. Emergency room registered nurse: 60% seeking a new job; $79,100 median pay
  6. Patient services representative:  59% seeking a new job; $39,600 median pay
  7. Cyber security analyst: 59% seeking a new job; $82,900 median pay
  8. Welder, cutter, solderer or brazer: 58% seeking a new job; $48,400 median pay
  9. Forklift operator: 58% seeking a new job; $39,800 median pay
  10. IT program manager: 58% seeking a new job; $132,000 median pay
  11. Critical care registered nurse: 58% seeking a new job; $80,700 median pay
  12. Retail sales associate: 58% seeking a new job; $30,700 median pay
  13. Software development engineer: 58% seeking a new job; $86,800 median pay
  14. Senior data analyst: 58% seeking a new job; $97,100 median pay
  15. Patient care coordinator: 58% seeking a new job; $46,300 median pay

It’s worth mentioning that respondents who said they hoped to seek other employment also indicated they planned to start looking within six months.

Payscale’s 2023 End-of-Year Job Market Report was compiled using data provided by more than 770,000 U.S. workers between November 2022 and October 2023. Additional findings, including information on more in-demand jobs, can be found at Payscale.

Tags Jobs quitting

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.