14 Careers To Consider if You Don’t Like Working

Updated March 10, 2023

While some individuals have a dream job, others may not prioritize work in their lives. Having little motivation to work can make a job search seem challenging, but it doesn't have to be. If you don't like working, you may want to consider jobs that offer fewer hours, give you a creative outlet or have unconventional work environments. In this article, we share 14 jobs for people who do not like to work, with tips for choosing a career that's right for you.

14 jobs for people who do not like to work

There are a variety of reasons individuals may not like to work, but there are still some jobs that they might enjoy. Here are some careers that may meet your professional preferences if you don't typically enjoy working:

1. Secretary

National average salary: $26,330 per year

Primary duties: Secretaries are professionals who assist in the management of a company's administrative duties. Their primary duties may include answering phone calls, scheduling meetings, filing paperwork and organizing records. In some positions, secretaries may also assist clients and send out appointment reminders.

This may be an ideal career for someone who doesn't like to work because it's not a physically demanding job. Secretaries also often work regular business hours and rarely need to work on weekends. Professionals in these careers also may be able to work with little experience and education.

2. Tour guide

National average salary: $27,317 per year

Primary duties: Tour guides are travel professionals who accompany tourists on trips to landmarks and attractions. These professionals share information about tourist attractions, giving directions, making travel recommendations. Tour guides may research the history of a certain tourist attraction and spend most of their time outside of an office setting.

This may be an ideal career for someone who doesn't want to work because it allows professionals to travel for their jobs. Because many tour guides stay in the same area, they can become well acquainted with certain tourist attractions, making it easier for them to make recommendations and give directions to tourists.

3. Flight attendant

National average salary: $33,073 per year

Primary duties: Flight attendants keep travelers safe by enforcing rules and regulations. Their primary duties may include, assisting customers, distributing snacks and ensuring the flight deck is secure. These professionals help manage the stress of passengers when traveling.

This may be an ideal career for someone who doesn't like working because flight attendants often work less than 40 hours a week. Some flight attendants can explore different travel destinations during layovers as well. This career can offer many other perks, such as flying credits, housing assistance and health insurance.

4. Data entry clerk

National average salary: $33,416 per year

Primary duties: Data entry clerks are administrative professionals who update a company's records via a computer system. Their primary duties include collecting data, recording information, reviewing records for accuracy and preparing documents for printing and distribution. These professionals also may work to update databases in order to preserve data and keep efficient working practices.

Being a data entry clerk often allows professionals to work independently, sometimes from home. This an also an ideal career because professionals can choose to work on a freelance basis, which can be beneficial to someone who wants to set their own hours.

5. House cleaner

National average salary: $35,244 per year

Primary duties: House cleaners are professionals who clean homes and offices. These professionals handle deep cleaning and rearranging appliances and furniture as well as addressing other minor maintenance issues. House cleaners follow client requests when completing their work and may provide regular or one-time services.

While being a house cleaner can be physically demanding, professionals with this career can often set their own hours and either work for a company or on a freelance basis. This is an ideal career for someone who wants to work in solitude.

6. Personal shopper

National average salary: $38,012 per year

Primary duties: Personal shoppers are customer service professionals who make purchases on behalf of their clients. Their primary duties include communicating with clients, reviewing shopping lists, managing budgets and traveling to specific stores to purchase items. Personal shoppers often also deliver the items they purchase to their clients to offer complete convenience.

This is an ideal career for someone who doesn't love working because it allows professionals to work on a freelance basis, which helps them control how many hours they work and how much they make. Personal shoppers often work shorter hours and can complete their work independently.

7. Anesthesiologist

National average salary: $38,417 per year

Primary duties: Anesthesiologists are medical professionals who administer anesthesia during surgical operations. Their primary duties include calculating how much anesthesia to administer and monitoring patients before, during and after the surgical procedure. These professionals also administer medications for pain management, as they are experts in the area.

This may be an ideal career for someone who is interested in the medical field but doesn't want to work too many hours. Anesthesiologists can have more flexibility in their schedule and some professionals working in this field may experience less stress than other medical professionals.

8. Pilot

National average salary: $42,015 per year

Primary duties: Pilots are professionals who operate aircraft and transport products or passengers on commercial or private flights. Their primary duties often include communicating with air traffic control professionals, monitoring aircraft engines and fuel level, leading aircraft personnel and navigating to safe landing areas. A pilot's duties can depend on whether they work for private or commercial airlines and if they're working with passengers.

Pilots often are able to complete their work with minimal assistance and can work fewer hours than average professionals. This career can also offer the benefit of traveling to new places.

8. Graphic designer

National average salary: $49,993 per year

Primary duties: Graphic designers are artists who create their work on digital platforms. These professionals communicate with clients, use software to complete their art, create unique designs and select colors, fonts and images for logos and artwork. Graphic designers also offer recommendations to clients and make edits to their work as needed.

This may be an ideal career for someone who doesn't like work because graphic design allows artistic individuals to practice their talents in a marketable way. Graphic designers often work on a contract or freelance basis, which allows professionals to set their own hours and hourly wage.

9. Stenographer

National average salary: $50,404 per year

Primary duties: Stenographers transcribe conversations as they occur to keep accurate records of important events, such as court hearings. Their primary duties can include learning stenography shorthand, presenting their work to other professionals, accurately documenting oral conversations and preparing transcripts of their writing. Stenographers may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, corporate offices and courtrooms.

This may be an ideal job for someone who doesn't enjoy working because, though they're often around people, stenographers are able to work independently. This career isn't physically demanding and may be appealing to someone who enjoys administrative tasks.

9. Curator

National average salary: $53,844 per year

Primary duties: Curators are professionals who manage and arrange exhibits for museums and galleries. Their primary duties include choosing items for an exhibit, arranging showings, conducting research and communicating with other professionals to advertise the event to the public. Curators can specialize in topics like history, science and art.

This can be a good, low-stress career because it allows professionals to be creative and and share information on topics they care about. Curators usually work indoors and don't complete any physically demanding tasks.

10. Librarian

National average salary: $54,301 per year

Primary duties: Librarians are professionals who help other conduct research and find materials for entertainment or educational purposes. Librarians generally manage library resources, assist patrons with research, order subscriptions and library materials and maintain library systems. Some librarians may also work with specific groups of people and perform advocacy work or lead enrichment programs, such as an event to promote literacy for children.

Individuals who don't like work may enjoy being a librarian because these professionals often work under 40 hours each week. Most libraries close for a few days per week and on holidays and also may have shorter business hours on the weekends.

11. Delivery driver

National average salary: $61,882 per year

Primary duties: Delivery drivers transport items to customers and businesses. These professionals are responsible for ensuring the safe and timely travel of products. Their primary duties include packing and unloading items, communicating with customers to ensure proper delivery, maintaining their vehicles and documenting their deliveries.

This is an ideal career for someone who doesn't want to work in an office and prefers to work alone. Being a delivery driver allows professionals to have non-routine workdays. Though delivery drivers complete physical labor when carrying packages to doorsteps and loading their vehicles, most of their day is spent driving from location to location.

12. Physical therapist assistant

National average salary: $71,774 per year

Primary duties: Physical therapist assistants are medical professionals who assist lead physical therapists in their work. Their primary duties often include recording patient progress, recommending health practices, assisting patients when performing exercises and discuss notes with a physical therapist. These professionals also may educate patients and their families about how to perform exercises at home.

Because these professionals often work less than 35 hours per week, this may be a good career choice for people who don't like working. Physical therapist assistants also often have little work-related stress and can work under the guidance of other professionals.

13. Dental hygienist

National average salary: $81,105 per year

Primary duties: Dental hygienists are medical professionals who clean and examine teeth. Their primary duties include completing patient exams, collecting dental history, cleaning teeth and assisting dentists. Dental hygienists also educate patients on good oral health practices and monitor their patient's oral health.

This is a good career for those who don't enjoy working because dental hygienists often work fewer hours than the average professional. There are also several programs that allow professionals to become a dental hygienist in a short amount of time, which can appeal to those who don't want to pursue advanced education.

14. Actuary

National average salary: $114,775 per year

Primary duties: Actuaries are professionals who analyze risk in the finance industry. These professionals are responsible for designing insurance programs, researching financial trends, presenting their findings and consulting with clients. These professionals help businesses and individuals make financially stable decisions.

This high-paying career may appeal to people who don't want to work on a team of professionals because actuaries spend most of their time conducting independent research.

Tips for choosing a job that suits your needs

Here are some tips to help you find a job that suits your needs and preferences:

Understand why you don't like work. Understanding why you're uninterested in work can help you search for opportunities. For example, you may not want to work because you don't want to interact with people.
Identify your needs. Try to identify your needs and keep them in mind when searching for a job. For example, if you don't want to work in an office job, you can consider careers such as a delivery driver or tour guide.
Set boundaries when looking for jobs. Setting boundaries concerning your work hours, environment and pay helps you find job opportunities best suited for your lifestyle.
Boost your motivation. Set goals and give yourself rewards to make working more enjoyable.