Learn about typical career interests of the the ENTP personality type, potential career matches, and careers to avoid.
Reading time: 5 minutes
After a short summary of ENTP career interests, you’ll find 20 potential career fits for ENTPs, along with several poor fits, identified by combining data about ENTP personality patterns with detailed occupational information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The chart below shows where ENTPs tend to fall on the classic RIASEC career interest dimensions: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
Your unique blend of these dimensions dramatically influences how well a career feels like a good fit.
The dark blue areas show where ENTPs are most likely to fall on each dimension.
Most ENTPs tend to have the following pattern of interests:
High Enterprising interests: People with strong Enterprising interests are often skilled communicators and enjoy influencing, persuading, and leading other people. They actively pursue leadership roles and opportunities to bolster their status and reputation. Examples include sales and marketing directors, politicians and political organizers, and executives.
High Investigative interests: People with strong Investigative interests prefer roles that require observation, researching, and understanding ideas. They tend to prefer working with data and ideas rather than working closely with other people. Examples include medical researchers, chemists, software engineers, scientific reporters, and statisticians.
Average Realistic interests: People with high Realistic interests enjoy careers that allow them to work with their hands or tools to get a job done, rather than thinking or talking about it. They may also gravitate towards jobs with opportunities for working outdoors, competition, and risk-taking. Examples include police officers, military officers, professional athletes, farmers, builders, mechanics, forest rangers, and woodworkers.
Average Conventional interests: People with strong Conventional interests excel in roles that require categorizing, planning, and systematizing information and processes. Examples include financial officers, budget analysts, office managers, database analysts, and systems administrators.
Average Artistic interests: People with strong Artistic interests prefer jobs that require innovation through artistic and intuitive skills in less structured tasks and environments. Examples include artists, novelists, actors or actresses, musicians, curators, and designers.
Low Social interests: People with strong Social interests fit well with careers that involve helping, comforting, caring for, and teaching other people. Examples include physical therapists, counselors, clergy, social workers, doctors, and nurses.
However, it’s possible to find ENTPs at any point on any of these six dimensions. While most ENTPs have relatively low Social interests, there are still a few ENTPs who score very highly on them. This wide range in interests highlights the problem of using broad personality types to find good career matches.
For a more precise assessment of your unique combination of personality traits, career interests, and much more, try the assessments here at TraitLab.
Most ENTPs also have intense Enterprising interests, which fit well with roles with heavy demands for persuading, leading, and managing others.
Many ENTPs have strong Investigative interests, meaning they will gravitate towards roles with opportunities for analysis, research, and working with complex ideas.
Other ENTPs tend to lean into Realistic interests, pulling them towards roles that involve working with their hands, tools, or machinery.
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People who work in the following 20 occupations tend to have similar interests to most ENTPs:
Also known as Design Engineer, Network Analyst, Network and Security Engineer, Network Consultant, Network Systems Consultant, Networking Systems and Distributed Systems Engineer, Solutions Architect, Telecommunications Analyst
Network Engineers design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. In addition, Network Engineers
Typical pay range: $67,190 - $175,570 (annual)
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Also known as Conservationist, Environmental Analyst, Erosion Control Specialist, Land Manager, Land Reclamation Specialist, Land Resource Specialist, Resource Conservation Specialist, Resource Conservationist, Soil Conservationist
Conservation Scientists manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. In addition, Conservation Scientists
Typical pay range: $39,230 - $100,350 (annual)
Learn more about Conservation Scientists ->
Also known as Criminal Investigator, Detective, Detective Sergeant, Fugitive Detective, Fugitive Investigator, Investigator, Narcotics Detective, Narcotics Investigator, Police Detective, Special Agent
Detectives conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Typical pay range: $46,020 - $146,000 (annual)
Learn more about Detectives ->
Also known as Civil Engineering Manager, Electrical Engineering Manager, Engineering Director, Engineering Group Manager, Engineering Program Manager, Mechanical Engineering Manager, Process Engineering Manager, Project Engineering Manager, Project Manager
Engineering Directors plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
Typical pay range: $95,310 - $208,000+ (annual)
Learn more about Engineering Directors ->
Also known as City Planner, Community Development Planner, Community Planner, Development Technician, Housing Development Specialist, Neighborhood Planner, Planning Technician, Regional Planner, Urban Design Consultant, Zoning Technician
Urban Planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
Typical pay range: $46,830 - $118,280 (annual)
Learn more about Urban Planners ->
Also known as Advanced Analytics Associate, Analytical Strategist, Decision Analyst, Operations Research Analyst, Optimization Analyst
Operations Research Analysts formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. In addition, Operations Research Analysts
Typical pay range: $48,050 - $144,330 (annual)
Learn more about Operations Research Analysts ->
Also known as Continuous Improvement Engineer, Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Operations Engineer, Plant Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Quality Engineer, Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer)
Industrial Engineers design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
Typical pay range: $57,950 - $136,930 (annual)
Learn more about Industrial Engineers ->
Also known as Product Sales Engineer; Sales Engineer; Sales Engineer, Account Manager; Sales Engineer, Engineered Products; Senior Sales Engineer; Technical Sales Engineer
Sales Engineers sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
Typical pay range: $60,730 - $184,190 (annual)
Learn more about Sales Engineers ->
Also known as Application Development Director, Computing Services Director, Data Processing Manager, Information Systems Director (IS Director), Information Systems Manager (IS Manager), Information Systems Supervisor (IS Supervisor), Information Technology Director (IT Director), Information Technology Manager (IT Manager), MIS Director (Management Information Systems Director), Technical Services Manager
Information Technology Managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
Typical pay range: $90,430 - $208,000+ (annual)
Learn more about Information Technology Managers ->
Also known as Air Pollution Control Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Consultant, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Remediation Specialist, Hazardous Substances Engineer, Sanitary Engineer
Environmental Engineers research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. They also work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Typical pay range: $55,450 - $144,670 (annual)
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Also known as Biological Science Aide, Forest Technician, Forestry Aide, Forestry Technician, Resource Technician, Timber Appraiser
Forest Technicians provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, forests, or related natural resources. In addition, Forest Technicians
Typical pay range: $27,970 - $60,910 (annual)
Learn more about Forest Technicians ->
Also known as Extrusion Engineer, Materials Development Engineer, Materials Engineer, Materials Research Engineer, Metallurgical Engineer, Metallurgist, Research Engineer, Test Engineer
Materials Engineers evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. In addition, Materials Engineers
Typical pay range: $57,970 - $154,340 (annual)
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Also known as Information Analyst, Information Systems Manager (IS Manager), Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist), Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator), Network Administrator, Network Coordinator, Network Manager, Systems Administrator
Systems Adminstrators install, configure, and maintain an organization’s local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. In addition, Systems Adminstrators
Typical pay range: $52,830 - $134,970 (annual)
Learn more about Systems Adminstrators ->
Also known as Agricultural Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, Conservation Engineer, Engineer, Product Engineer, Product Technology Scientist, Project Engineer, Research Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural Engineers apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
Typical pay range: $51,160 - $166,620 (annual)
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Also known as Mine Engineer, Mining Consultant, Mining Engineer, Planning Engineer, Project Engineer, Safety Engineer, Safety Representative
Mining Engineers conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. In addition, Mining Engineers
Typical pay range: $57,040 - $156,270 (annual)
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Also known as Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Curator, Education Curator, Exhibitions Curator, Exhibits Curator, Museum Curator, Photography Curator, Vertebrate Zoology Curator
Curators administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. They also may conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
Typical pay range: $33,370 - $96,820 (annual)
Learn more about Curators ->
Also known as Materials Scientist, Micro Electrical/Mechanical Systems Device Scientist (MEMS Device Scientist), Polymer Materials Consultant, Research and Development Scientist (R and D Scientist), Research Scientist, Scientist
Materials Scientists research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. In addition, Materials Scientists
Typical pay range: $54,810 - $165,290 (annual)
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Also known as Environmental Program Manager, Laboratory Manager, Natural Science Manager, Research and Development Director, Research Manager, Water Team Leader
Natural Science Managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Typical pay range: $71,400 - $208,000+ (annual)
Learn more about Natural Science Managers ->
Also known as Technology Applications Engineer, Web Architect, Web Design Specialist, Web Designer, Web Developer, Webmaster
Web Developers develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. In addition, Web Developers
Typical pay range: $40,750 - $146,430 (annual)
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Also known as Airport Operations Coordinator, Airport Operations Officer, Airport Operations Specialist, Flight Follower, Operations Agent, Operations Coordinator
Airfield Operations Specialists ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. They also duties include coordination between air-traffic control and maintenance personnel, dispatching, using airfield landing and navigational aids, implementing airfield safety procedures, monitoring and maintaining flight records, and applying knowledge of weather information.
Typical pay range: $28,660 - $98,770 (annual)
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Most ENTPs would struggle to enjoy careers that primarily demand Artistic and Social interests. These careers would focus heavily on creative, open-ended work in unstructured environment or require strong nurturing, helping, and caring tendencies. Such careers would leave little room for ENTPs to use their natural persuasive, analytical, and leadership abilities.
A few examples of poor fits include:
