Learn about typical career interests of the the ESFJ personality type, potential career matches, and careers to avoid.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Gregory Park, Ph.D.
Author
After a short summary of ESFJ career interests, you’ll find 20 potential career fits for ESFJs, along with several poor fits, identified by combining data about ESFJ personality patterns with detailed occupational information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The chart below shows where ESFJs 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 ESFJs are most likely to fall on each dimension.
Most ESFJs tend to have the following pattern of interests:
High 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.
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.
Average 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.
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.
Low 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.
Low 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.
However, it’s possible to find ESFJs at any point on any of these six dimensions. While most ESFJs have relatively low Realistic interests, there are still a few ESFJs 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 ESFJs have intense Social interests, which fit well with roles requiring skillful communication and empathy.
Many ESFJs also have strong Artistic interests, meaning they will gravitate towards roles with opportunities to create, innovate, and experiment.
Other ESFJs tend to lean into Enterprising interests, pulling them towards roles with heavy demands for persuading, leading, and managing others.
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People who work in the following 20 occupations tend to have similar interests to most ESFJs:
Also known as Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor), Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher), Adult Education Instructor, Adult Education Teacher, ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor), ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher), ESOL Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher), GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor), GED Teacher (General Educational Development Teacher), Teacher
Adult Education Instructors teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
Typical pay range: $32,120 - $95,630 (annual)
Learn more about Adult Education Instructors ->
Also known as Art Teacher, English Teacher, High School Science Teacher, History Teacher, Mathematics Instructor (Math Instructor), Science Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Teacher
High School Teachers teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Typical pay range: $41,330 - $102,130 (annual)
Learn more about High School Teachers ->
Also known as Computer Training Specialist, Corporate Trainer, E-Learning Developer, Job Training Specialist, Management Development Specialist, Senior Instructor, Supervisory Training Specialist, Technical Trainer, Trainer, Training Specialist
Corporate Trainers design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. They also may analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.
Typical pay range: $33,900 - $107,060 (annual)
Learn more about Corporate Trainers ->
Also known as Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Educator, Instructor, Kinder Teacher, Kindergarten Classroom Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, Teacher, Title One Kindergarten Teacher, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten Teachers teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
Typical pay range: $37,360 - $91,980 (annual)
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Also known as Caregiver, Child Care Worker, Child Caregiver, Childcare Provider, Childcare Worker, Daycare Teacher, Daycare Worker, Infant Teacher, Toddler Teacher
Childcare Providers attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. They also perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
Typical pay range: $18,380 - $37,720 (annual)
Learn more about Childcare Providers ->
Also known as Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Faculty Member, Government Professor, Instructor, Political Science Instructor, Political Science Professor, Professor, Public Administration Professor
Political Science Professors teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. They also includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical pay range: $43,460 - $179,450 (annual)
Learn more about Political Science Professors ->
Also known as Adoption Social Worker, Case Manager, Case Worker, Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker), Family Protection Specialist, Family Resource Coordinator, Family Service Worker, Foster Care Social Worker, School Social Worker, Youth Services Specialist
Family Social Workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. In addition, Family Social Workers
Typical pay range: $32,300 - $80,290 (annual)
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Also known as Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator), Arbiter, Arbitrator, Divorce Mediator, Family Mediator, Federal Mediator, Labor Arbitrator, Labor Mediator, Mediator, Public Employment Mediator
Mediators facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. They also resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
Typical pay range: $38,330 - $131,210 (annual)
Learn more about Mediators ->
Also known as Exceptional Children Teacher (EC Teacher), Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Inclusion Teacher, Intervention Specialist, Learning Support Teacher, Middle School Special Education Teacher, Self-Contained Special Education Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Teacher
Special Education Middle School Teachers teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. They also includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Typical pay range: $42,090 - $99,750 (annual)
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Also known as Activities Assistant, Activities Director, Activity Aide, Activity Assistant, Activity Coordinator, Activity Director, Recreation Assistant, Recreation Coordinator, Recreation Supervisor
Recreation Workers conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. They also organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.
Typical pay range: $19,510 - $46,510 (annual)
Learn more about Recreation Workers ->
Also known as Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Career Counselor, College Counselor, Guidance Counselor, School Adjustment Counselor, School Counselor, Student Development Advisor, Student Services Coordinator
Guidance Counselors advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Typical pay range: $35,620 - $97,910 (annual)
Learn more about Guidance Counselors ->
Also known as Activity Coordinator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), General Activities Therapist, Recreation Therapist, Recreational Therapist, Rehabilitation Therapist, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Recreational Therapists plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. In addition, Recreational Therapists
Typical pay range: $31,450 - $79,250 (annual)
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Also known as Anchor, Announcer, DJ (Disc Jockey), Host, Morning Show Host, News Anchor, Radio Announcer, Television News Anchor (TV News Anchor)
Broadcast Announcers speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. They also may play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
Typical pay range: $19,580 - $114,050 (annual)
Learn more about Broadcast Announcers ->
Also known as Accounting Instructor, Accounting Professor, Associate Professor, Business Administration Professor, Business Instructor, Business Professor, Instructor, Management Professor, Marketing Professor, Professor
Management Professors teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. They also includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical pay range: $39,720 - $202,080 (annual)
Learn more about Management Professors ->
Also known as Communications Specialist, Corporate Communications Specialist, Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist, Public Information Officer, Public Information Specialist, Public Relations Coordinator (PR Coordinator), Public Relations Specialist (PR Specialist)
Public Relations Specialists promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. In addition, Public Relations Specialists
Typical pay range: $35,350 - $118,210 (annual)
Learn more about Public Relations Specialists ->
Also known as Employment Advisor, Employment Services Case Manager, Employment Specialist, Human Services Care Specialist, Job Coach, Rehabilitation Counselor, Rehabilitation Specialist, Vocational Case Manager, Vocational Placement Specialist, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
Rehabilitation Counselors counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. In addition, Rehabilitation Counselors
Typical pay range: $25,660 - $66,180 (annual)
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Also known as Apprise Counselor, Community Health Outreach Worker, Community Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep), Community Health Promoter, Community Health Worker (CHW), Community Nutrition Educator, HIV CTS Specialist (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Testing Services Specialist)
Community Health Workers promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. In addition, Community Health Workers
Typical pay range: $28,010 - $70,790 (annual)
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Also known as Clinical Therapist, Counselor, Family Therapist, Human Relations Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Outpatient Therapist, Play Therapist
Family Therapists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. They also apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Typical pay range: $33,140 - $92,930 (annual)
Learn more about Family Therapists ->
Also known as Court Interpreter, Deaf Interpreter, Educational Interpreter, Interpreter, Medical Interpreter, Paraprofessional Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter, Spanish Interpreter, Technical Translator, Translator
Interpreters interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Typical pay range: $29,740 - $96,480 (annual)
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Also known as Addictions Counselor, Case Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor (CD Counselor), Chemical Dependency Professional, Clinical Counselor, Correctional Substance Abuse Counselor, Counselor, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist (DATS), Prevention Specialist, Substance Abuse Counselor (SA Counselor)
Substance Abuse Counselors counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. They also may counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
Typical pay range: $30,590 - $78,700 (annual)
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Most ESFJs would struggle to enjoy careers that primarily demand Realistic and Investigative interests. These careers would focus heavily on analytic and technical details, leaving little room for ESFJs to use their creative and interpersonal strengths.
A few examples of poorer fits include:
