Work Context Index

The most physically active jobs that are growing faster than average

The most physically active jobs, restricted to occupations with projected employment growth above 3.5% over 2025-35, the BLS projection for all occupations. Every value is O*NET's own mean rating; the percentile is where that value sits among all 894 occupations, not among the restricted set.

Which jobs are the most physically active, by measured standing, walking, hands-on work and time not spent sitting that BLS projects to grow faster than average?

Only 405 of the 894 occupations O*NET 30.3 rates have projected employment growth above 3.5% over 2025-35, the BLS projection for all occupations. Ranked by the mean percentile across walking or running, standing, using your hands, sitting, 25 are listed: 5 also appear in the unrestricted ranking and 20 enter only under this restriction, led by Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (92nd percentile), Orderlies (91st percentile), Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (91st percentile). The strongest overall are Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (96th percentile), Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (96th percentile), Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (95th percentile). Their median BLS wage is $46,170 (2025, 25 of 25 with a BLS line item), and 25 of the 25 with BLS education data typically need less than a bachelor's degree.

Occupations compared: 405 of 894 O*NET occupations qualify (projected employment growth above 3.5% over 2025-35, the BLS projection for all occupations); percentiles are still taken over all 894
Measures combined: Spend Time Walking or Running (higher is preferred); Spend Time Standing (higher is preferred); Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls (higher is preferred); Spend Time Sitting (lower is preferred)
How they are combined: Each measure becomes a percentile rank among all occupations, flipped where lower is preferred, then the percentiles are averaged with equal weight. The figure is a rank average, not a suitability score.
Wage and outlook source: BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025 (Employment in thousands). 9 of the 25 occupations listed have a dedicated RoleSprint page.

Source and method

O*NET 30.3 Database (Work Context), U.S. Department of Labor, and BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Verified 2026-09-05. Ratings are reproduced from O*NET as published mean incumbent responses on each question's own 1-to-5 scale. Percentile ranks, composite averages and the resulting order are RoleSprint's computation and are described on the methodology page. Wage, education and outlook fields are reproduced from BLS for the matching SOC code and left blank where BLS publishes no line item.

What this page does and does not claim

People search this as “active jobs”. This page answers that with the measurement behind it: 4 Work Context questions — Spend Time Walking or Running, Spend Time Standing, Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls, Spend Time Sitting — each rated on a fixed 1-to-5 scale by people who do each job.

It does not say which jobs suit a personality, a temperament or a health condition. It reports a measured condition of the work and lets you decide whether that condition is the one you meant.

The 25 occupations

Ordered by mean percentile across walking or running, standing, using your hands, sitting.

#	Occupation	Component values	Rank	BLS wage and education
1	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers O*NET-SOC 35-9011.00	Walking or running 4.86 · higher than 99% Standing 4.84 · higher than 99% Using your hands 4.52 · higher than 86% Sitting 1.27 · lower than 98%	96th percentile mean of 4 measures	$33,980 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +5.3% 2025-35
2	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters O*NET-SOC 47-2152.00 Am I qualified to be a plumber? Career Escape Map for plumbers	Walking or running 3.86 · higher than 94% Standing 4.69 · higher than 96% Using your hands 4.76 · higher than 95% Sitting 1.36 · lower than 97%	96th percentile mean of 4 measures	$63,800 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +6.8% 2025-35
3	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic O*NET-SOC 51-9195.00	Walking or running 3.85 · higher than 94% Standing 4.75 · higher than 97% Using your hands 4.59 · higher than 88% Sitting 1.23 · lower than 99%	95th percentile mean of 4 measures	$46,170 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +5.8% 2025-35
4	Electricians O*NET-SOC 47-2111.00 Am I qualified to be a electrician? Career Escape Map for electricians Electrician job description for a resume	Walking or running 4.23 · higher than 98% Standing 4.55 · higher than 92% Using your hands 4.94 · higher than 99% Sitting 1.81 · lower than 86%	94th percentile mean of 4 measures	$63,190 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +9.2% 2025-35
5	Cooks, Restaurant O*NET-SOC 35-2014.00 Cook job description for a resume	Walking or running 3.49 · higher than 87% Standing 4.76 · higher than 97% Using your hands 4.55 · higher than 87% Sitting 1.23 · lower than 99%	92nd percentile mean of 4 measures	$37,390 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +12.1% 2025-35
6	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders O*NET-SOC 51-9111.00	Walking or running 3.87 · higher than 95% Standing 4.57 · higher than 92% Using your hands 4.55 · higher than 87% Sitting 1.55 · lower than 93%	92nd percentile mean of 4 measures	$43,220 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +4.1% 2025-35
7	Orderlies O*NET-SOC 31-1132.00	Walking or running 4.62 · higher than 99% Standing 4.60 · higher than 93% Using your hands 4.62 · higher than 89% Sitting 1.90 · lower than 82%	91st percentile mean of 4 measures	$38,290 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +4% 2025-35
8	Food Servers, Nonrestaurant O*NET-SOC 35-3041.00 Food Service Worker job description for a resume	Walking or running 4.56 · higher than 99% Standing 4.70 · higher than 96% Using your hands 4.14 · higher than 71% Sitting 1.37 · lower than 97%	91st percentile mean of 4 measures	$35,360 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +4.5% 2025-35
9	Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants O*NET-SOC 53-6031.00	Walking or running 4.07 · higher than 98% Standing 4.59 · higher than 93% Using your hands 4.72 · higher than 94% Sitting 2.04 · lower than 79%	91st percentile mean of 4 measures	$35,670 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +3.8% 2025-35
10	Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers O*NET-SOC 49-9095.00	Walking or running 3.42 · higher than 85% Standing 4.81 · higher than 98% Using your hands 4.39 · higher than 80% Sitting 1.09 · lower than 99%	91st percentile mean of 4 measures	$45,990 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +5.8% 2025-35
11	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00 Am I qualified to be a diesel mechanic?	Walking or running 3.68 · higher than 92% Standing 4.40 · higher than 88% Using your hands 4.79 · higher than 95% Sitting 1.76 · lower than 87%	91st percentile mean of 4 measures	$61,770 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +3.6% 2025-35
12	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers O*NET-SOC 51-3022.00	Walking or running 2.93 · higher than 70% Standing 5.00 · higher than 99% Using your hands 4.63 · higher than 90% Sitting 1.23 · lower than 99%	90th percentile mean of 4 measures	$38,300 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +5.7% 2025-35
13	Shampooers O*NET-SOC 39-5093.00	Walking or running 3.16 · higher than 77% Standing 4.79 · higher than 98% Using your hands 4.57 · higher than 87% Sitting 1.46 · lower than 95%	89th percentile mean of 4 measures	$32,600 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +5.6% 2025-35
14	Automotive Body and Related Repairers O*NET-SOC 49-3021.00 Am I qualified to be a auto body repairer? Career Escape Map for auto body repairers	Walking or running 3.47 · higher than 86% Standing 4.19 · higher than 82% Using your hands 4.95 · higher than 99% Sitting 1.65 · lower than 90%	89th percentile mean of 4 measures	$54,890 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +3.7% 2025-35
15	Insulation Workers, Mechanical O*NET-SOC 47-2132.00	Walking or running 3.17 · higher than 78% Standing 4.71 · higher than 97% Using your hands 4.56 · higher than 87% Sitting 1.46 · lower than 95%	89th percentile mean of 4 measures	$58,340 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +5.1% 2025-35
16	Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing O*NET-SOC 51-9195.03	Walking or running 2.93 · higher than 70% Standing 4.74 · higher than 97% Using your hands 4.75 · higher than 95% Sitting 1.47 · lower than 95%	89th percentile mean of 4 measures	$46,170 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +5.8% 2025-35
17	Endoscopy Technicians O*NET-SOC 31-9099.02	Walking or running 3.48 · higher than 87% Standing 4.68 · higher than 96% Using your hands 4.50 · higher than 85% Sitting 1.69 · lower than 89%	89th percentile mean of 4 measures	$48,430 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +4.8% 2025-35
18	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics O*NET-SOC 49-3023.00 Am I qualified to be a automotive technician? Career Escape Map for automotive mechanics	Walking or running 2.97 · higher than 72% Standing 4.60 · higher than 93% Using your hands 4.93 · higher than 99% Sitting 1.64 · lower than 91%	88th percentile mean of 4 measures	$50,620 median (2025) Postsecondary nondegree award · +5% 2025-35
19	Chefs and Head Cooks O*NET-SOC 35-1011.00 Am I qualified to be a chef? Career Escape Map for chefs	Walking or running 3.35 · higher than 83% Standing 4.62 · higher than 94% Using your hands 4.50 · higher than 85% Sitting 1.71 · lower than 89%	88th percentile mean of 4 measures	$62,470 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +6.6% 2025-35
20	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians O*NET-SOC 49-3041.00	Walking or running 3.41 · higher than 85% Standing 4.41 · higher than 89% Using your hands 4.67 · higher than 92% Sitting 1.86 · lower than 84%	87th percentile mean of 4 measures	$56,550 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +10.7% 2025-35
21	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers O*NET-SOC 51-6011.00	Walking or running 3.68 · higher than 92% Standing 4.62 · higher than 94% Using your hands 3.99 · higher than 67% Sitting 1.38 · lower than 96%	87th percentile mean of 4 measures	$34,890 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +4.3% 2025-35
22	Fence Erectors O*NET-SOC 47-4031.00	Walking or running 3.95 · higher than 96% Standing 4.46 · higher than 90% Using your hands 4.17 · higher than 72% Sitting 1.68 · lower than 89%	87th percentile mean of 4 measures	$47,980 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +5.6% 2025-35
23	Paperhangers O*NET-SOC 47-2142.00	Walking or running 3.15 · higher than 77% Standing 4.44 · higher than 89% Using your hands 4.55 · higher than 87% Sitting 1.56 · lower than 93%	86th percentile mean of 4 measures	$52,140 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +4.3% 2025-35
24	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers O*NET-SOC 31-9096.00	Walking or running 4.09 · higher than 98% Standing 4.78 · higher than 98% Using your hands 3.92 · higher than 65% Sitting 1.86 · lower than 84%	86th percentile mean of 4 measures	$38,150 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +9.1% 2025-35
25	Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers O*NET-SOC 37-3011.00 Am I qualified to be a landscaper? Career Escape Map for landscapers Landscaper job description for a resume	Walking or running 4.01 · higher than 97% Standing 4.33 · higher than 86% Using your hands 4.27 · higher than 76% Sitting 1.83 · lower than 86%	86th percentile mean of 4 measures	$39,150 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +4.7% 2025-35

Values are mean ratings from O*NET 30.3; most come from surveys of people in the occupation, some from occupational experts, and some for newer occupations from O*NET analysts. Wage, education and outlook are from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 for the matching SOC code and are blank where BLS publishes no line item.

How this was measured

Spend Time Walking or Running (higher is preferred)
“How much does this job require walking or running?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Continually or almost continually.
Spend Time Standing (higher is preferred)
“How much does this job require standing?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Continually or almost continually.
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls (higher is preferred)
“How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Continually or almost continually.
Spend Time Sitting (lower is preferred)
“How much does this job require sitting?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Continually or almost continually.

The full method, including how ties are broken and what the data cannot tell you, is on the methodology page.

The restriction applied

Only occupations with projected employment growth above 3.5% over 2025-35, the BLS projection for all occupations are listed: 405 of 894 qualify.

The unrestricted ranking is at The most physically active jobs.

Combine this with other conditions

The explorer ranks all occupations on any set of measures you choose, with the same values and the same arithmetic as this page.

Open the explorer with this selection

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. RoleSprint has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Wage, education and outlook figures are reproduced from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What to do next

These rankings describe occupations in general. The next question is whether a specific opening in one of them actually matches what you can show, and that is answered by comparing the posting with your resume.