Highest Paying Careers by Myers-Briggs Personality Type
Looking for a career that fits your personality? New analysis matches Myers-Briggs personality types with the highest-paying jobs.
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Perhaps too few job seekers stop to consider which field best suits their personality.
If you know your Myers-Briggs personality type, Resume Genius reporting may be the job for you. If not, we’ll help you figure it out.
Myers-Briggs suggests four “preference pairs” that reflect aspects of a person’s personality. To paraphrase the Myers-Briggs website, personality is characterized by “extroversion” (E) or “introversion” (I), receiving information through “sensing” (S) or “intuition” (N), reaching conclusions through “thinking” (T) or “feeling” (F), and approaching the world through “judging” (J) or “perceiving” (P).
Combining any four preferences gives you one of 16 different personality types (for example, ESTJ, or INFP).
The job seeker website searched Department of Labor data to find the best-paying jobs for each personality type.
To identify suitable areas, the site utilized research from personality database forums. In this forum, we asked people to vote on the best jobs for each personality type. The analysis took the top five jobs by personality category and sorted them by salary.
“While I am an introvert myself, I know that successful workplaces require all types of personalities,” Ed Huang, executive director of Resume Genius, told USA TODAY in August. “Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, the key is to find a position that fits your strengths and allows you to contribute meaningfully.”
Highest Paying Jobs by Personality Type
Here are the highest paying jobs for each Myers-Briggs personality type.
ISTJ: Surgeon. The median annual wage for this job is $239,200. As of 2023, there were 834,500 surgeons nationwide, and the field is expected to grow 4% by 2033.
The ISTJ personality type, also known as the “logisticist,” “succeeds in mastering their craft, no matter how many hours it takes,” the report states. That’s a good thing because surgeons spend years in school.
INFJ: Psychiatrist. The typical psychiatrist earns an annual salary of $226,880. Nationwide employment totals 28,600 people and is expected to grow at a strong 7% by 2033.
Known as “defenders,” INFJs are “always looking for the ‘why’ behind everything,” the report says, which makes them ideal for psychiatry.
ESTJ: Airline captain. The country’s 152,800 airline captains earn an average annual salary of $198,100, and the field is expected to grow 5% by 2033.
This personality type is known as an “executive.” As an ESTJ, the report states, “your sense of responsibility makes you ideal for flying planes.”
INTP: Physicist. The median salary for the country’s 152,800 physicists is $166,290, and the field is expected to grow 5% by 2033. The logician personality type is known for problem solving and analytical thinking. To get a job in research or academia, you need a Ph.D.
ENFP: Advertising Director. The average wage for this job is $159,660. There are 411,300 advertising directors in the United States, and the field is expected to grow at a robust 8% by 2033.
ENFPs are called “campaigners.”
“If there’s one role that can bring that energy and people-first perspective to storytelling, it’s the advertising director,” the report said.
ENTJ: Prosecutor. The average wage for this job is $151,160 and 859,000 prosecutors are employed nationwide. This sector is expected to grow by 5% by 2033.
ENTJs, also known as “commanders,” have a “no-nonsense approach” that makes them a natural fit for the job, the report says.
ENFJ: Human Resources Manager. The median income for 208,900 human resources managers nationwide is $140,030. Employment growth is projected to be 6% by 2033.
Referred to as “protagonists,” ENFJs “are innate connections who thrive on helping others grow and succeed,” the report states.
ESTP: Sales Manager. There are 584,800 sales managers nationwide, with a median annual salary of $138,060. Employment growth is projected to be 6% by 2033.
ESTPs, or “entrepreneurs,” “pursue the fast-paced challenges of life, and the world of sales is full of them,” the report says.
ISFJ: Pharmacist. The country’s 337,700 pharmacists earn a median income of $137,480, and the field should grow 5% by 2033.
ISFJs are called “defenders.”
“Your presence always makes others feel safe and supported,” the report states. “And as a pharmacist, your patients know they’re safe.”
ISTP: Electrical Engineer. With 287,800 jobs, the median annual wage in the sector is $118,780 and is expected to grow by a whopping 9% by 2033.
The ISTP personality type, known as “The Virtuoso,” is “all about problem solving,” the report states.
INTJ: Data Scientist. The country’s 202,900 data scientists earn an average salary of $112,590, and the field is expected to grow by an impressive 36% by 2033.
The report states that “architects” are “not the loudest people in the room,” adding, “But they don’t have to be. As an INTJ, your work speaks for itself.”
INFP: Animator. The first job on this list with a median salary below six figures is for animator at $99,800. There are 73,300 animators in the country, and the sector is expected to grow by 4% by 2033.
INFPs are called “mediators.” But they are also “dreamers” and “have a talent for finding magic in the everyday,” the report says.
ENTP: Forensic Psychologist. There are 207,500 forensic psychologists in the United States, with a median salary of $94,310. Employment growth is on track to reach 7% by 2033.
ENTPs are “debaters”. The report states that ENTPs “love to dive into complex issues and uncover the truth,” “especially when others are in trouble.”
ESFP: Model. The average model salary is $89,990 for all 3,600 people. By 2033, employment growth is expected to be zero. Clearly, there are enough models in this country.
ESFPs are “entertainers”. Modeling “is the perfect way to express your love of self-expression,” the report said.
ESFJ: Post-secondary teacher. The country’s 1.4 million university faculty members earn an average salary of $83,980, and employment is expected to grow by 8% by 2033.
ESFJ is a “consul”.
“You have a natural talent for connecting with others and creating a warm and supportive environment, which are exactly the qualities that make a great post-secondary teacher,” the report states.
ISFP: Fashion designer. There are 21,900 fashion designers in the United States with an average salary of $80,690. Employment prospects are expected to increase by 5% by 2033.
ISFPs are “adventurers”.
“You may come across as quiet and reserved, but your creativity runs deep and fashion design is the perfect outlet to express it,” the report states.
