Job requirements · 2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey
Desk jobs: careers where workers sit most of the day.
70 occupations, each with the BLS requirement that puts it here, plus pay, projected growth, education and experience. Filter, sort and compare.
Desk-based careers7030 pay $75K+ · 11 growing 7%+ · 36 usually need no degree2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey
Quick answer
70 occupations where workers sat at least 75% of the workday on average, by the 2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey. Highest shares: Switchboard operators, including answering service (98.2%); Software Engineer (97.1%); Dispatcher (96.9%). Highest BLS median pay among them: IT Manager ($175,140), Architectural and engineering managers ($171,270), Marketing Manager ($166,790). Pay and projections are separate BLS sources.
- Occupations
- 70
- meet the published rule
- BLS median $75,000+
- 30
- of 70
- Growing 7%+ by 2035
- 11
- of 70, BLS projections
- No degree most common
- 36
- of 70, ORS minimum education
What it means
Sitting, as BLS measures it
Data A job requirement, not health advice.
What BLS measures
Mean percent of the workday workers were required to sit (sitting includes lying down). This describes job requirements, not whether a job suits a health or medical need.
What it is not
Not a recommendation for any health condition or disability, and not every employer: some offer a choice of sitting or standing, shown for each occupation where BLS publishes it.
How it's measured
The rule, in full
Data One published BLS estimate per occupation; no score.
Rule
Included: detailed occupations where the mean share of the workday workers were required to sit is at least 75% (2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey). Sorted by that share.
Data status
BLS publishes these as preliminary estimates: the aggregate of two annual samples collected between August 2023 and July 2025, part of the third ORS wave. Values may change when the full wave is final. BLS advises against comparing them with earlier ORS releases.
Data Where BLS cannot publish an exact value it publishes a range, shown here in words (for example “less than 0.5%” or “more than 99.5%”). Ranges are BLS’s one-sided 90% confidence bounds; TryHired never converts them to a single number. For sorting only, a range is placed at its bound.
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All 70 occupations
Data Filter by pay, growth, education, experience or field; sort any column; search by name.
| Occupation · why it is here | Most common minimum education | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switchboard operators, including answering serviceBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 98.2% of the workday on average (SOC 43-2011). | 98.2% Telework available13.2%Choice of sitting or standing73.8% | $38,630 | -26.0% | High school diploma (87.1%) |
| Software EngineerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 97.1% of the workday on average (SOC 15-1252). | 97.1% Telework available77.2%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree (75.8%) |
| DispatcherBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 96.9% of the workday on average (SOC 43-5031). | 96.9% Telework availableless than 0.5%Choice of sitting or standing62.1% | $53,040 | +3.7% | High school diploma (94.0%) |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialistsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 96.7% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1141). | 96.7% Telework available49.9%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $78,210 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree (73.8%) |
| Bill and account collectorsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 96.7% of the workday on average (SOC 43-3011). | 96.7% Choice of sitting or standing94.3% | $47,030 | -10.4% | High school diploma (89.4%) |
| Financial AnalystBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 96.4% of the workday on average (SOC 13-2051). | 96.4% Telework available78.3%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $102,740 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree (82.1%) |
| AccountantBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 96.2% of the workday on average (SOC 13-2011). | 96.2% Telework available68.4%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $83,680 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree (91.3%) |
| Billing and posting clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 95.8% of the workday on average (SOC 43-3021). | 95.8% Telework available39.4%Choice of sitting or standing93.4% | $48,500 | -0.1% | High school diploma (84.7%) |
| Loan interviewers and clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 94.7% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4131). | 94.7% Telework available31.2%Choice of sitting or standing94.2% | $50,020 | -2.4% | High school diploma (92.6%) |
| Graphic DesignerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 94.4% of the workday on average (SOC 27-1024). | 94.4% Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $62,960 | -1.7% | n/a |
| Computer Systems AnalystBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 93.7% of the workday on average (SOC 15-1211). | 93.7% Telework available86.1%Choice of sitting or standing96.8% | $105,850 | +7.9% | Bachelor's degree (71.6%) |
| Medical CoderBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 93.3% of the workday on average (SOC 29-2072). | 93.3% Telework available43.4%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 90% | $51,140 | +7.8% | High school diploma (85.9%) |
| Marketing ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 93.2% of the workday on average (SOC 11-2021). | 93.2% Telework available88.7%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $166,790 | +6.9% | Bachelor's degree (82.9%) |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 93.2% of the workday on average (SOC 43-3051). | 93.2% Telework available34.8%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $58,260 | -15.9% | High school diploma (75.8%) |
| BookkeeperBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 92.8% of the workday on average (SOC 43-3031). | 92.8% Telework available28.1%Choice of sitting or standing99.2% | $50,670 | -5.6% | High school diploma (70.6%) |
| HR ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 92.0% of the workday on average (SOC 11-3121). | 92.0% Telework available54.0%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $149,280 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree (88.7%) |
| Administrative services managersBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 92.0% of the workday on average (SOC 11-3012). | 92.0% Telework available38.1%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 90% | $114,130 | +5.2% | Bachelor's degree (68.0%) |
| RecruiterBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 91.6% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1071). | 91.6% Telework available50.1%Choice of sitting or standing87.6% | $75,940 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree (48.7%) |
| Executive AssistantBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 90.9% of the workday on average (SOC 43-6011). | 90.9% Telework available39.5%Choice of sitting or standing91.4% | $76,590 | +0.0% | High school diploma (57.9%) |
| Management ConsultantBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 89.9% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1111). | 89.9% Telework available74.6%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree (84.0%) |
| ParalegalBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 89.7% of the workday on average (SOC 23-2011). | 89.7% Telework available46.5%Choice of sitting or standing84.7% | $62,890 | -0.3% | High school diploma (48.5%) |
| IT ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 89.2% of the workday on average (SOC 11-3021). | 89.2% Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $175,140 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree (72.6%) |
| Marketing SpecialistBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 89.0% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1161). | 89.0% Telework available36.1%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 75% | $78,760 | +7.0% | Bachelor's degree (76.2%) |
| Administrative AssistantBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 89.0% of the workday on average (SOC 43-6014). | 89.0% Telework available25.2%Choice of sitting or standing86.7% | $47,540 | -6.0% | High school diploma (79.6%) |
| Financial ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 88.6% of the workday on average (SOC 11-3031). | 88.6% Telework available41.1%Choice of sitting or standing94.6% | $166,570 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree (71.1%) |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulanceBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 88.6% of the workday on average (SOC 43-5032). | 88.6% Telework available8.3%Choice of sitting or standing79.3% | $50,340 | -0.7% | High school diploma (75.9%) |
| Human Resources AssistantBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 88.4% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4161). | 88.4% Telework available26.8%Choice of sitting or standing91.5% | $50,610 | -6.2% | High school diploma (82.4%) |
| Order clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 88.4% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4151). | 88.4% Telework available9.9%Choice of sitting or standing82.5% | $46,170 | -17.5% | High school diploma (79.3%) |
| Medical SecretaryBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 87.9% of the workday on average (SOC 43-6013). | 87.9% Telework available3.2%Choice of sitting or standing70.7% | $45,930 | +4.8% | High school diploma (90.2%) |
| Education administrators, postsecondaryBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 87.4% of the workday on average (SOC 11-9033). | 87.4% Telework available32.2%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 95% | $104,590 | +1.8% | Master's degree (36.3%) |
| Eligibility interviewers, government programsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.9% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4061). | 86.9% Telework available31.9%Choice of sitting or standing85.4% | $54,210 | +1.6% | High school diploma (47.4%) |
| School Bus DriverBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.9% of the workday on average (SOC 53-3051). | 86.9% Telework availableless than 0.5%Choice of sitting or standingless than 0.5% | $47,920 | +0.7% | n/a |
| Loan OfficerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.7% of the workday on average (SOC 13-2072). | 86.7% Telework available46.2%Choice of sitting or standing89.0% | $76,690 | +1.1% | High school diploma (61.6%) |
| Architectural and engineering managersBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.5% of the workday on average (SOC 11-9041). | 86.5% Telework available53.0%Choice of sitting or standing91.4% | $171,270 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree (98.4%) |
| LawyerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.4% of the workday on average (SOC 23-1011). | 86.4% Telework available68.6%Choice of sitting or standing91.2% | $159,670 | +4.7% | Professional degree (more than 99.5%) |
| Office clerks, generalBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.3% of the workday on average (SOC 43-9061). | 86.3% Telework available10.6%Choice of sitting or standing89.1% | $45,010 | -6.0% | High school diploma (82.1%) |
| Purchasing AgentBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.3% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1023). | 86.3% Telework available38.0%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 85% | not published separately | +6.0% | High school diploma (42.2%) |
| Legal secretaries and administrative assistantsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.2% of the workday on average (SOC 43-6012). | 86.2% Telework available38.1%Choice of sitting or standing79.9% | $55,570 | -5.2% | High school diploma (89.6%) |
| Cost EstimatorBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 86.0% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1051). | 86.0% Telework available35.6%Choice of sitting or standing69.1% | $78,740 | -3.1% | High school diploma (52.2%) |
| FundraiserBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 85.6% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1131). | 85.6% Telework available65.5%Choice of sitting or standing92.5% | $72,550 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree (83.9%) |
| Mental Health CounselorBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 85.6% of the workday on average (SOC 21-1014). | 85.6% Telework available24.5%Choice of sitting or standing79.1% | not published separately | n/a | Master's degree (96.9%) |
| Information and record clerks, all otherBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 85.4% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4199). | 85.4% Telework availableless than 5%Choice of sitting or standing83.7% | $49,500 | +0.8% | High school diploma (74.1%) |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 85.2% of the workday on average (SOC 43-5061). | 85.2% Telework available11.4%Choice of sitting or standing92.4% | $59,650 | -1.3% | High school diploma (85.0%) |
| Compliance OfficerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 85.0% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1041). | 85.0% Telework available64.4%Choice of sitting or standing85.5% | $80,730 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree (59.4%) |
| System AdministratorBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 84.7% of the workday on average (SOC 15-1244). | 84.7% Telework available52.2%Choice of sitting or standing85.9% | $99,130 | -4.1% | Bachelor's degree (64.2%) |
| Mechanical draftersBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 84.2% of the workday on average (SOC 17-3013). | 84.2% Telework available20.5%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 90% | $71,550 | -6.0% | High school diploma (40.4%) |
| Purchasing ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 84.1% of the workday on average (SOC 11-3061). | 84.1% Telework available26.4%Choice of sitting or standingmore than 99.5% | $148,080 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree (79.9%) |
| Social and community service managersBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 83.8% of the workday on average (SOC 11-9151). | 83.8% Telework available28.9%Choice of sitting or standing97.9% | $80,390 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree (43.4%) |
| Court, municipal, and license clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 83.3% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4031). | 83.3% Telework available6.3%Choice of sitting or standing73.1% | $48,700 | +3.4% | High school diploma (83.7%) |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loanBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 83.3% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4111). | 83.3% Telework available13.4%Choice of sitting or standing70.9% | $45,920 | -10.4% | High school diploma (85.5%) |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific productsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 82.9% of the workday on average (SOC 41-4011). | 82.9% Telework available50.7%Choice of sitting or standing78.3% | $104,920 | +1.2% | Bachelor's degree (73.8%) |
| Cargo and freight agentsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 82.7% of the workday on average (SOC 43-5011). | 82.7% Telework available25.3%Choice of sitting or standing73.8% | $52,260 | +6.2% | High school diploma (89.0%) |
| Computer network support specialistsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 82.4% of the workday on average (SOC 15-1231). | 82.4% Telework available33.5%Choice of sitting or standing67.0% | $76,220 | +1.2% | High school diploma (55.7%) |
| Sales ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 82.2% of the workday on average (SOC 11-2022). | 82.2% Telework available68.9%Choice of sitting or standing98.2% | $148,270 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree (44.1%) |
| Project ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 81.8% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1082). | 81.8% Telework available53.9%Choice of sitting or standing89.1% | $102,320 | +6.7% | Bachelor's degree (57.1%) |
| School CounselorBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 81.3% of the workday on average (SOC 21-1012). | 81.3% Telework available15.5%Choice of sitting or standing88.6% | $64,330 | +2.9% | Master's degree (50.8%) |
| IT Support SpecialistBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 81.2% of the workday on average (SOC 15-1232). | 81.2% Telework available52.4%Choice of sitting or standing75.6% | $61,860 | -3.5% | High school diploma (43.6%) |
| Office ManagerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 80.6% of the workday on average (SOC 43-1011). | 80.6% Telework available24.6%Choice of sitting or standing91.7% | $69,500 | +0.1% | High school diploma (65.8%) |
| Training SpecialistBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 80.4% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1151). | 80.4% Telework available69.8%Choice of sitting or standing86.8% | $69,280 | +10.8% | Bachelor's degree (56.8%) |
| Customer Service RepresentativeBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 80.0% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4051). | 80.0% Telework available38.9%Choice of sitting or standing72.0% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma (72.6%) |
| ReceptionistBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 80.0% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4171). | 80.0% Telework available2.7%Choice of sitting or standing58.0% | $38,010 | -1.7% | High school diploma (70.9%) |
| Shuttle drivers and chauffeursBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 79.3% of the workday on average (SOC 53-3053). | 79.3% Telework availableless than 0.5%Choice of sitting or standingless than 0.5% | $37,290 | +7.1% | High school diploma (55.3%) |
| Public Relations SpecialistBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 79.2% of the workday on average (SOC 27-3031). | 79.2% Choice of sitting or standing94.8% | $74,750 | +1.8% | Bachelor's degree (78.3%) |
| Event PlannerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 79.1% of the workday on average (SOC 13-1121). | 79.1% Choice of sitting or standing71.3% | $61,160 | +5.8% | Bachelor's degree (53.9%) |
| File clerksBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 79.1% of the workday on average (SOC 43-4071). | 79.1% Telework available12.1%Choice of sitting or standing83.0% | $43,600 | -15.8% | High school diploma (79.3%) |
| Sewing machine operatorsBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 78.7% of the workday on average (SOC 51-6031). | 78.7% Telework availableless than 0.5%Choice of sitting or standing13.6% | $36,670 | -15.1% | No minimum education (76.5%) |
| Civil EngineerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 76.6% of the workday on average (SOC 17-2051). | 76.6% Choice of sitting or standingmore than 50% | $100,840 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree (94.5%) |
| Managers, all otherBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 75.9% of the workday on average (SOC 11-9199). | 75.9% Telework available34.8%Choice of sitting or standing71.1% | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree (47.3%) |
| Instructional DesignerBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 75.9% of the workday on average (SOC 25-9031). | 75.9% Telework available38.8%Choice of sitting or standing93.1% | $77,440 | +1.6% | Bachelor's degree (64.6%) |
| Truck DriverBLS estimates workers in this occupation were required to sit 75.3% of the workday on average (SOC 53-3032). | 75.3% Telework availableless than 0.5%Choice of sitting or standing1.1% | $58,640 | +3.8% | High school diploma (60.2%) |
No occupations match these filters.
FAQ
Common questions
What are the desk-based careers?
70 occupations where workers sat at least 75% of the workday on average, by the 2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey. Highest shares: Switchboard operators, including answering service (98.2%); Software Engineer (97.1%); Dispatcher (96.9%). Highest BLS median pay among them: IT Manager ($175,140), Architectural and engineering managers ($171,270), Marketing Manager ($166,790).
How is this list made?
Included: detailed occupations where the mean share of the workday workers were required to sit is at least 75% (2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey). Sorted by that share.
Is this data final?
BLS publishes these as preliminary estimates: the aggregate of two annual samples collected between August 2023 and July 2025, part of the third ORS wave. Values may change when the full wave is final. BLS advises against comparing them with earlier ORS releases.
More
Explore other job requirements
Method
How this page is built
Included: detailed occupations where the mean share of the workday workers were required to sit is at least 75% (2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey). Sorted by that share. Each row's figure is the BLS estimate for the detailed occupation (6-digit 2018 SOC code shown); occupational-group figures are never used for a single occupation. Searches this page answers include “desk jobs that pay well”, “desk jobs that don't require a degree”, “desk jobs that pay well without a degree” (Ahrefs, U.S.). Data status: BLS publishes these as preliminary estimates: the aggregate of two annual samples collected between August 2023 and July 2025, part of the third ORS wave. Values may change when the full wave is final. BLS advises against comparing them with earlier ORS releases. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for the same SOC code (not published separately for some ORS occupations). Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. BLS data are in the public domain.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Whether a specific employer offers it: ORS estimates describe workers in an occupation nationally, not any one job opening.
- Health, disability or medical suitability: these are job requirements, not advice about whether a job suits a medical condition.
- Final values: the 2025 estimates are preliminary and may change when BLS completes the third wave.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey, 2025 estimates (preliminary: two of the third wave's samples, collected August 2023 to July 2025; released January 16, 2026), public domain.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, occupational projections 2025–35.