Jobs with the highest divorce rates
Divorce rates are dropping, but Americans in some occupations continue to end their marriages at higher rates.
About 16% of Americans who have ever been married are currently divorced, an analysis of 2022 Census Bureau data shows. The divorce rate in the U.S. peaked with those who married in the 1970s, nearly half of whom were divorced within 25 years.
Generations since then have divorced less often, though older Gen-Xers and baby boomers are divorcing at twice the rates people their age were in the 1990s, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Other research shows that millennials are divorcing at particularly low rates. They're also getting married less frequently, with a record 25% of U.S. 40-year-olds who had never been married in 2021, up from 6% in 1980.
The reasons for divorce are complicated and vary across demographics and age. But one factor shows a strong predictor for long-term marital success: occupation.
People with stable, higher-paying jobs tend to experience lower divorce rates than those who don't earn as much money, according to research by statistician Nathan Yau based on Census Bureau data. An Institute for Family Studies report found less than one-third of married people in the middle and upper classes filed for divorce, while more than a third of those among the working class had sought divorces.
Using 2022 American Community Survey data, sourced via the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, Stacker ranked the 50 U.S. jobs with the highest divorce rates, breaking ties by separation rates. Rates in this analysis are calculated as the number of people who are currently divorced out of all people who have ever been married within each occupation. Data looks only at current marital status, so those who were previously divorced but have since gotten remarried are not counted among divorced people. Stacker only considered occupations with a sample size larger than 100.
The analysis also includes 2022 employment and wage data for occupations, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which don't factor into the ranking.
Interestingly, people who either haven't had a job in the past five-plus years or never worked had a divorce rate of 21.4%, which was lower than all occupations on the list.
It stands to reason that married couples who are less likely to encounter financial hardships will have a better chance of staying together. If both people in a marriage have high-paying jobs, they can use their combined wealth in mutually beneficial ways. Married people in jobs with high average annual salaries, stability, and predictability will have more money to provide for a family and pay their bills, can enjoy luxuries such as vacations, and generally lead fulfilling lives.
Jobs with relatively low pay and irregular hours, like bartending or waiting tables, can cause a financial strain on a marriage. From another standpoint, those with jobs that require a lot of travel, like flight attendants or entertainers, may face marital stress because they're forced to spend a lot of time away from home. Others with physically demanding occupations often encounter low pay, long hours, and dangerous working conditions—each of which can lead to potential complications at home.
Continue reading to find out which jobs have the highest divorce rates in the U.S.
#50. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Divorce rate: 21.7%
- Separation rate: 2.2%
- Median annual salary: $39,340 ($6,970 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 182,460 people
#49. Medical transcriptionists
- Divorce rate: 21.8%
- Separation rate: 1.3%
- Median annual salary: $34,730 ($11,580 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 48,680 people
#48. Skincare specialists
- Divorce rate: 21.8%
- Separation rate: 3.4%
- Median annual salary: $38,060 ($8,250 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 61,990 people
#47. Waiters and waitresses
- Divorce rate: 21.8%
- Separation rate: 5.4%
- Median annual salary: $29,120 ($17,190 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 2.1 million people
#46. Surgical technologists
- Divorce rate: 21.9%
- Separation rate: 2.1%
- Median annual salary: $55,960 ($9,650 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 107,400 people
#45. Transportation service attendants
- Divorce rate: 21.9%
- Separation rate: 5.2%
- Median annual salary: $33,950 ($12,360 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 119,320 people
#44. Chemical technicians
- Divorce rate: 22.1%
- Separation rate: 1.1%
- Median annual salary: $50,840 ($4,530 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 56,030 people
#43. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
- Divorce rate: 22.1%
- Separation rate: 2.8%
- Median annual salary: $49,710 ($3,400 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 344,970 people
#42. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Divorce rate: 22.1%
- Separation rate: 6.6%
- Median annual salary: $43,540 ($2,770 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 132,240 people
#41. Dishwashers
- Divorce rate: 22.1%
- Separation rate: 7.9%
- Median annual salary: $29,080 ($17,230 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 431,840 people
#40. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Divorce rate: 22.2%
- Separation rate: 2.2%
- Median annual salary: $35,380 ($10,930 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 173,110 people
#39. Other textile, apparel, and furnishings workers
- Divorce rate: 22.2%
- Separation rate: 3.7%
- Median annual salary: $44,273 ($2,037 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 30,340 people
#38. Security guards and gambling surveillance officers
- Divorce rate: 22.2%
- Separation rate: 4.2%
- Median annual salary: $35,360 ($10,950 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 1.1 million people
#37. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Divorce rate: 22.3%
- Separation rate: 2.7%
- Median annual salary: $49,230 ($2,920 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 149,760 people
#36. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Divorce rate: 22.3%
- Separation rate: 3.2%
- Median annual salary: $46,080 ($230 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 227,580 people
#35. Helpers—installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Divorce rate: 22.4%
- Separation rate: 6.1%
- Median annual salary: $35,100 ($11,210 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 93,650 people
#34. Postal service clerks
- Divorce rate: 22.5%
- Separation rate: 2.2%
- Median annual salary: $56,200 ($9,890 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 77,690 people
#33. Social and human service assistants
- Divorce rate: 22.5%
- Separation rate: 3.7%
- Median annual salary: $38,520 ($7,790 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 399,560 people
#32. Nursing assistants
- Divorce rate: 22.9%
- Separation rate: 6.0%
- Median annual salary: $35,760 ($10,550 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 1.3 million people
#31. Flight attendants
- Divorce rate: 23.0%
- Separation rate: 1.7%
- Median annual salary: $63,760 ($17,450 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 108,480 people
#30. Forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Divorce rate: 23.0%
- Separation rate: 3.5%
- Median annual salary: $44,273 ($2,037 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 102,040 people
#29. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Divorce rate: 23.0%
- Separation rate: 4.7%
- Median annual salary: $50,890 ($4,580 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 141,530 people
#28. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Divorce rate: 23.0%
- Separation rate: 7.4%
- Median annual salary: $29,690 ($16,620 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 28,570 people
#27. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Divorce rate: 23.1%
- Separation rate: 2.7%
- Median annual salary: $50,490 ($4,180 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 53,680 people
#26. Word processors and typists
- Divorce rate: 23.4%
- Separation rate: 2.9%
- Median annual salary: $44,330 ($1,980 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 41,990 people
#25. Home health aides
- Divorce rate: 23.4%
- Separation rate: 7.6%
- Median annual salary: $30,180 ($16,130 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3.5 million people
#24. Dancers and choreographers
- Divorce rate: 23.5%
- Separation rate: 3.0%
- Median annual salary: $50,990 ($4,680 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 14,330 people
#23. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Divorce rate: 23.8%
- Separation rate: 2.6%
- Median annual salary: $48,780 ($2,470 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 159,940 people
#22. Rehabilitation counselors
- Divorce rate: 23.9%
- Separation rate: 1.2%
- Median annual salary: $39,990 ($6,320 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 82,420 people
#21. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Divorce rate: 23.9%
- Separation rate: 4.3%
- Median annual salary: $54,620 ($8,310 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 632,020 people
#20. Pharmacy aides
- Divorce rate: 24.3%
- Separation rate: 1.1%
- Median annual salary: $33,270 ($13,040 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 43,230 people
#19. Residential advisors
- Divorce rate: 24.3%
- Separation rate: 5.7%
- Median annual salary: $35,720 ($10,590 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 86,770 people
#18. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Divorce rate: 24.4%
- Separation rate: 2.9%
- Median annual salary: $33,380 ($12,930 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 91,270 people
#17. Personal care aides
- Divorce rate: 24.5%
- Separation rate: 6.3%
- Median annual salary: $30,180 ($16,130 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3.5 million people
#16. Supervisors of personal care and service workers
- Divorce rate: 24.6%
- Separation rate: 1.8%
- Median annual salary: $48,210 ($1,900 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 205,440 people
#15. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Divorce rate: 24.7%
- Separation rate: 1.7%
- Median annual salary: $34,670 ($11,640 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 47,430 people
#14. Gambling services workers
- Divorce rate: 24.7%
- Separation rate: 3.5%
- Median annual salary: $29,470 ($16,840 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 91,460 people
#13. Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
- Divorce rate: 24.7%
- Separation rate: 3.8%
- Median annual salary: $35,070 ($11,240 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 67,750 people
#12. School bus monitors
- Divorce rate: 24.8%
- Separation rate: 4.9%
- Median annual salary: $29,880 ($16,430 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 64,100 people
#11. Telephone operators
- Divorce rate: 25.5%
- Separation rate: 3.7%
- Median annual salary: $38,330 ($7,980 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 4,030 people
#10. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Divorce rate: 25.6%
- Separation rate: 2.8%
- Median annual salary: $38,700 ($7,610 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 168,680 people
#9. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Divorce rate: 25.7%
- Separation rate: 4.8%
- Median annual salary: $49,130 ($2,820 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 119,530 people
#8. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Divorce rate: 25.9%
- Separation rate: 5.9%
- Median annual salary: $28,910 ($17,400 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 243,180 people
#7. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Divorce rate: 26.1%
- Separation rate: Not available
- Median annual salary: $36,010 ($10,300 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 12,720 people
#6. Massage therapists
- Divorce rate: 27.6%
- Separation rate: 2.5%
- Median annual salary: $49,860 ($3,550 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 86,270 people
#5. Hazardous materials removal workers
- Divorce rate: 27.6%
- Separation rate: 4.6%
- Median annual salary: $46,690 ($380 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 46,780 people
#4. Bartenders
- Divorce rate: 27.8%
- Separation rate: 5.6%
- Median annual salary: $29,380 ($16,930 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 613,070 people
#3. Acupuncturists
- Divorce rate: 29.2%
- Separation rate: 1.1%
- Median annual salary: $72,220 ($25,910 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 7,800 people
#2. Metal furnace operators, tenders, pourers, and casters
- Divorce rate: 29.5%
- Separation rate: 1.4%
- Median annual salary: $47,675 ($1,365 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 25,390 people
#1. Telemarketers
- Divorce rate: 34.4%
- Separation rate: 3.4%
- Median annual salary: $31,030 ($15,280 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 96,520 people
Data reporting and additional writing by Paxtyn Merten.
