Learn about typical career interests of the the ESFP personality type, potential career matches, and careers to avoid.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Gregory Park, Ph.D.
Author
After a short summary of ESFP career interests, you’ll find 20 potential career fits for ESFPs, along with several poor fits, identified by combining data about ESFP personality patterns with detailed occupational information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The chart below shows where ESFPs 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 ESFPs are most likely to fall on each dimension.
Most ESFPs 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 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 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 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.
Low 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.
However, it’s possible to find ESFPs at any point on any of these six dimensions. While most ESFPs have relatively low Investigative interests, there are still a few ESFPs 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 ESFPs have intense Social interests, which fit well with roles requiring skillful communication and empathy.
Many ESFPs also have strong Enterprising interests, pulling them towards roles with heavy demands for persuading, leading, and managing others.
Other ESFPs tend to lean into Artistic interests, meaning they will gravitate towards roles with opportunities to create, innovate, and experiment.
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People who work in the following 20 occupations tend to have similar interests to most ESFPs:
Also known as Aerobics Instructor, Fitness Coordinator, Fitness Instructor, Fitness Specialist, Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor
Exercise Trainers instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. In addition, Exercise Trainers
Typical pay range: $21,640 - $76,550 (annual)
Also known as Art Museum Docent, Discovery Guide, Docent, Guide, Historical Interpreter, Museum Docent, Museum Educator, Museum Guide, Science Interpreter, Tour Guide
Tour Guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Typical pay range: $20,430 - $47,660 (annual)
Learn more about Tour Guides ->
Also known as Beautician, Cosmetologist, Hair Dresser, Hair Stylist, Hairdresser, Hairstylist, Manager Stylist, Master Cosmetologist, Stylist
Hairstylists provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. They also may shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services.
Typical pay range: $18,840 - $53,410 (annual)
Learn more about Hairstylists ->
Also known as Aesthetician, Clinical Esthetician, Esthetician, Facialist, Lead Esthetician, Medical Esthetician, Skin Care Specialist, Skin Care Technician, Skin Care Therapist, Spa Technician
Estheticians provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual’s appearance. They also includes electrologists and laser hair removal specialists.
Typical pay range: $22,850 - $64,610 (annual)
Learn more about Estheticians ->
Also known as Baseball Coach, Basketball Coach, Coach, Cross Country Coach, Football Coach, Gymnastics Coach, Soccer Coach, Softball Coach, Track and Field Coach, Volleyball Coach
Athletics Coaches instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. In addition, Athletics Coaches
Typical pay range: $19,340 - $81,940 (annual)
Learn more about Athletics Coaches ->
Also known as Ballet Director, Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Maker, Musical Choreographer
Choreographers create new dance routines. In addition, Choreographers rehearse performance of routines and may direct and stage presentations.
Typical pay range: $21,180 - $101,250 (annual)
Learn more about Choreographers ->
Also known as Development Manager, Education and Development Manager, Education Director, Learning and Development Director, Learning Manager, Staff Training and Development Manager, Training and Development Coordinator, Training and Development Director, Training Director, Training Manager
Training Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.
Typical pay range: $66,270 - $200,210 (annual)
Learn more about Training Managers ->
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 Banquet Chef; Certified Executive Chef (CEC); Chef; Chef, Instructor; Cook; Corporate Executive Chef; Executive Chef (Ex Chef); Executive Sous Chef; Head Cook; Line Cook
Chefs direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. They also may plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
Typical pay range: $30,300 - $90,790 (annual)
Learn more about Chefs ->
Also known as Childcare Director, Early Head Start Director, Education Coordinator, Education Director, Education Site Manager, Preschool Director, Preschool Program Director, Principal, Site Coordinator
Childcare Directors plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Typical pay range: $31,380 - $86,040 (annual)
Learn more about Childcare Directors ->
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 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 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 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 Art Teacher, Dance Instructor, Dance Teacher, Driving Instructor, Flight Instructor, Instructor, Martial Arts Instructor, Music Instructor, Piano Teacher, Teacher
Self Enrichment Teachers teach or instruct individuals or groups for the primary purpose of self-enrichment or recreation, rather than for an occupational objective, educational attainment, competition, or fitness.
Typical pay range: $21,920 - $82,000 (annual)
Learn more about Self Enrichment Teachers ->
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)
Learn more about Community Health Workers ->
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 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)
Learn more about Family Social Workers ->
Also known as Assistive Technology Trainer, Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant, Occupational Therapist (OT), Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Registered Occupational Therapist, Staff Occupational Therapist, Staff Therapist
Occupational Therapists assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. They also use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual’s environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
Typical pay range: $57,330 - $122,670 (annual)
Learn more about Occupational Therapists ->
Also known as Adjunct Professor; Assistant Professor; Associate Professor; Health and Human Performance Professor; Health and Physical Education Professor (HPE Professor); Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Professor (HPER Professor); Instructor; Kinesiology Professor; Physical Education Professor (PE Professor); Professor
Physical Education Professors teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. They also includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical pay range: $33,140 - $130,580 (annual)
Learn more about Physical Education Professors ->
Most ESFPs would struggle to enjoy careers that primarily demand Investigative and Conventional interests. These careers would focus heavily on analytic details, organization, and processes. These kind of careers would leave little room for ESFPs to use their natural interpersonal and creative strengths.
A few examples of poorer fits include:
