9 Professions With the Most Unethical People, According to Americans

Some professions just naturally seem to be full of honest and ethical people. From teachers to doctors, we expect good people to be working in careers that allow them to help others, for example.

But in the eyes of many, other professions seem more likely to attract the ne’er-do-wells among us.

Recently, Gallup asked more than 1,000 adults from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to name the professions they perceive as having the most honest and ethical workers. A handful of professions ended up at the very bottom of the list.

Gallup actually conducts this survey annually but does not ask about the same professions every year. So, we took results from the past two years — the 2021 and 2022 surveys — to create this list.

Based on the surveys from those two years, these are the professions that people are least likely to say have honest and ethical workers.

1. Lobbyists

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 5% (as of the 2021 survey)

In both the U.S. and Western Europe, large percentages believe the political system needs a major overhaul. Many people believe the role of lobbyists long has had a corrosive effect on government affairs.

So it’s no surprise that just 5% of survey respondents believe lobbyists are people of high standards.

2. Telemarketers

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 6% (as of the 2022 survey)

Anyone who has ever had their dinner interrupted by a telemarketer probably understands why people in this field aren’t viewed as honest and ethical by many survey respondents.

If you hate being badgered by unwanted calls, check out “8 Easy Ways You Can Stop Robocalls.”

3. Members of Congress

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 9% (as of the 2022 survey)

Take heart, all you senators and representatives: At least your fellow citizens view you as being slightly less slimy than lobbyists.

The dislike of members of Congress is among the few things that can unite us across the red/blue divide. Nearly equal percentages of Democrats and Republicans expressed low opinions of the honesty and ethical standards of people who serve in Congress.

4. Car salespeople

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 10% (as of the 2022 survey)

Almost nobody enjoys buying a car, and pushy salespeople are a big part of the reason why.

Not everyone at the dealership acts this way, but those who do have given the profession a bad name in the eyes of many Americans.

5. State officeholders

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 12% (as of the 2021 survey)

Members of Congress really draw the ire of voters, but state officeholders don’t rank much better.

If being loved and respected is important to you, it’s probably best to steer clear of running for office.

6. Business executives (tie)

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 14% (as of the 2022 survey)

The stereotype is that business executives are overpaid, yet always greedy for more cash.

Fair or not, that tainted reputation means few Americans hold these folks in high regard.

6. TV reporters (tie)

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 14% (as of the 2021 survey)

For years, surveys have repeatedly shown that Americans do not trust the media, and that seems to be especially true of those who work in TV.

Those who work as part of the Fourth Estate better hope their family and friends love them because their readers and viewers usually do not.

8. Advertising practitioners

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 15% (as of the 2022 survey)

If someone’s job is to try to sell you something — usually in the hope that you will put money in his or her pocket — it stands to reason that you may be suspicious of that individual.

Nobody likes being manipulated, which is likely why advertising practitioners are on this list.

9. Newspaper reporters

Survey respondents who rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in this field as high or very high: 17% (as of the 2021 survey)

Finally, newspaper reporters also rarely feel affection from their distrustful readers.

As with television reporters, this is a job where you need thick skin and a belief that trying to tell the truth is more important than being well-regarded.