The 6 Most (and 6 Least) Trusted Professions in America

When it comes to choosing a professional, who do you trust? Not everybody, according to a recent poll. A recent Gallup survey asked Americans to rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in various professions. Some professions got top marks for trustworthiness, while other professions didn’t fare as well.

Following are six professions that did very well in terms of earning a “very high” or “high ranking.” We also included six professions that ranked poorly, earning many “very low” and “low” ratings from poll respondents.

If you are hoping to stop living paycheck to paycheck and are thinking of pursuing a new career path, you might want to check these rankings first.

Nurses continue to earn the public’s respect. In fact, 79% of adults who answered the poll rated the honesty and ethics of nurses as “very high” or “high,” according to Gallup.

They also get paid well for their work, with a median annual salary of $81,220, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Medical doctors earned a “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty rating from 62% of respondents.

Becoming a physician can be a daunting task. You need a bachelor’s degree as well as a medical school degree and time in an internship or residency program.

But physicians also make a median annual salary of more than $229,300 a year, with specialists usually earning higher pay.

Pharmacists give us the medications that keep us well, so it’s no surprise that they earned a “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty rating from 58% of respondents.

Pharmacists work in stores, specialized pharmacies, or hospitals and health care facilities. They make a median annual salary of $132,750.

High school teachers play an important role in shaping future generations. They received a “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty rating from 53% of respondents.

That number is down a bit from the 60% rating when the question was asked in both 2015 and 2018.

A high school teacher doesn’t make as much as other professions on the list, with a median annual salary of $62,360.

Pro tip: Many lower-paying jobs are ones that are very rewarding. You may need to earn extra income with a side hustle or second job though, depending on your goals.

Police officers earned a “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty rating from 50% of respondents, but that number is lower than in other years leading up to this 2022 poll.

Police officers and detectives make a median annual income of $69,160 in the U.S.

Getting ready to do your annual tax return? Accountants earned a “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty rating from 41% of respondents.

Accountants make a median annual salary of $78,000.

The most untrustworthy profession? Working as a member of Congress.

Members of the U.S. House and Senate got a “low” or “very low” ethics and honesty ranking from 62% of respondents.

Members of the House and Senate make $174,000 in annual salary, although some members in leadership positions may earn a little more, according to the U.S. Congress.

Are you sick of getting calls from telemarketers? You’re not the only one who doesn’t like to talk to them. According to Gallup, 59% of respondents gave these workers a “low” or “very low” ethics and honesty ranking.

Telemarketers can expect to make $31,030 in annual wages.

People buying cars probably don’t trust the person on the other end of the transaction. Car salespeople got a “very low” or “low” ethics and honesty ranking from 44% of respondents.

A car salesperson can expect a median annual wage of $59,090, but that number could jump based on commissions they earn from sales.

Gallup’s survey found that Americans are skeptical of journalists, with the profession earning a “very low” or “low” ethics and honesty ranking from 42% of respondents.

Journalists also may not be paid as well as other trusted — and not so trusted — professions on this list. They can expect a median annual salary of $55,960.

If you don’t trust advertisers, you are not alone. Advertising practitioners got a “very low” or “low” ethics and honest rating from 41% of respondents.

But the position pays well, with advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earning $127,380 in median annual wages.

On the other end of the survey, business executives received a “very low” or “low” ethics and honesty ranking from 36% of respondents.

Top business executives can earn $189,520 in median annual wages, according to the BLS.

Check out this list if trustworthiness is an important characteristic in a career you plan to pursue. 

But also remember to weigh other factors, such as what interests you, how much money you can make, and what types of benefits are available. 

Ethics and honesty are important, but so is boosting your bank account. Trustworthiness or public perception is not always in alignment with salary. You'll need to decide what's most important to you.