Most people in these jobs have never been married

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the share of U.S. adults who don't live with a spouse or partner is on the decline, according to a 2025 analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center. In 2019, 44% of U.S. adults were unpartnered; in 2023 (the most recent data available), that number dropped to 42%.

Pew's report showed that some key factors, including gender, age, and education, appear to contribute to Americans' single status. Women are more likely than men to be unpartnered by 4 percentage points. Editor's note: The data was collected using a binary understanding of sex and gender, which excludes important information about gender-diverse professionals.

Adults under 25 are the most likely to live alone, while those between 40 and 54 are the least likely to live solo. And 30% of people 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree are unpartnered, compared to 44% of people without a high school diploma.

But what about what you do for a living? Data suggests that may also play a part. Of more than 500 jobs tracked by the Census Bureau, Stacker identified the 50 with the highest share of single workers who had never married. This analysis uses data from the 2023 American Community Survey, sourced via the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs were ranked by the share of employees with each job who had never been married.

Nearly a third of the occupations in the top 20 are in the restaurant industry. Several factors may play into this: Most restaurant workers are young and early in their careers. Restaurant employees also tend to work evenings and weekends, which could make it more challenging to find a partner. Many physically demanding jobs requiring hours outside of the 9-to-5 standard and hospitality roles with similarly irregular schedules made the list.

Keep reading to discover the 50 jobs with the highest share of employees who've never been married.

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#50. Riggers

- Share who have never been married: 56.9%
- Median annual salary: $56,000 ($8,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 24,000 people

#49. Psychiatric technicians

- Share who have never been married: 57.3%
- Median annual salary: $40,000 ($8,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 116,000 people

#48. Baggage porters and bellhops

- Share who have never been married: 57.6%
- Median annual salary: $35,000 ($13,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 29,000 people

#47. Tire builders

- Share who have never been married: 57.6%
- Median annual salary: $54,000 ($6,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 21,000 people

#46. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

- Share who have never been married: 58.1%
- Median annual salary: $39,000 ($10,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 1.2 million people

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#45. Bartenders

- Share who have never been married: 58.5%
- Median annual salary: $32,000 ($17,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 711,000 people

#44. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

- Share who have never been married: 58.6%
- Median annual salary: $38,000 ($10,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3 million people

#43. Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders

- Share who have never been married: 58.9%
- Median annual salary: $44,000 ($5,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 13,000 people

#42. Web and digital interface designers

- Share who have never been married: 59%
- Median annual salary: $99,000 ($50,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 111,000 people

#41. Cooks, fast food

- Share who have never been married: 59.1%
- Median annual salary: $29,000 ($19,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 673,000 people

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#40. Sailors and marine oilers

- Share who have never been married: 59.5%
- Median annual salary: $48,000 (same as national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 30,000 people

#39. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Share who have never been married: 59.7%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 365,000 people

#38. Athletes and sports competitors

- Share who have never been married: 59.9%
- Median annual salary: $70,000 ($22,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 15,000 people

#37. Radiation therapists

- Share who have never been married: 60.3%
- Median annual salary: $98,000 ($50,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 17,000 people

#36. Library assistants, clerical

- Share who have never been married: 61.2%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 84,000 people

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#35. Stockers and order fillers

- Share who have never been married: 61.9%
- Median annual salary: $36,000 ($12,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 2.9 million people

#34. Coaches and scouts

- Share who have never been married: 62.1%
- Median annual salary: $46,000 ($2,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 239,000 people

#33. Food preparation workers

- Share who have never been married: 62.5%
- Median annual salary: $32,000 ($16,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 880,000 people

#32. Food servers, nonrestaurant

- Share who have never been married: 63.2%
- Median annual salary: $33,000 ($15,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 268,000 people

#31. Camera operators, television, video, and film

- Share who have never been married: 63.3%
- Median annual salary: $62,000 ($14,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 24,000 people

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#30. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Share who have never been married: 63.7%
- Median annual salary: $61,000 ($13,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 25,000 people

#29. Pharmacy aides

- Share who have never been married: 64%
- Median annual salary: $36,000 ($12,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 44,000 people

#28. Veterinary technologists and technicians

- Share who have never been married: 64.6%
- Median annual salary: $44,000 ($4,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 122,000 people

#27. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

- Share who have never been married: 64.7%
- Median annual salary: $31,000 ($17,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 264,000 people

#26. Social science research assistants

- Share who have never been married: 65%
- Median annual salary: $56,000 ($8,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 31,000 people

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#25. Telemarketers

- Share who have never been married: 65.3%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 82,000 people

#24. Emergency medical technicians

- Share who have never been married: 65.9%
- Median annual salary: $39,000 ($9,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 167,000 people

#23. Communications equipment operators, all other

- Share who have never been married: 66.2%
- Median annual salary: $49,000 ($1,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 1,000 people

#22. Counter and rental clerks

- Share who have never been married: 66.5%
- Median annual salary: $37,000 ($11,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 390,000 people

#21. Cashiers

- Share who have never been married: 67.6%
- Median annual salary: $30,000 ($18,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3.3 million people

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#20. Dishwashers

- Share who have never been married: 69.2%
- Median annual salary: $31,000 ($17,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 464,000 people

#19. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

- Share who have never been married: 69.2%
- Median annual salary: $36,000 ($12,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 116,000 people

#18. Recreation workers

- Share who have never been married: 70%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 282,000 people

#17. Print binding and finishing workers

- Share who have never been married: 70.7%
- Median annual salary: $38,000 ($10,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 39,000 people

#16. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers

- Share who have never been married: 70.8%
- Median annual salary: $64,000 ($15,000 above the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 14,000 people

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#15. Waiters and waitresses

- Share who have never been married: 71.5%
- Median annual salary: $32,000 ($16,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 2.2 million people

#14. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

- Share who have never been married: 71.8%
- Median annual salary: $31,000 ($17,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 483,000 people

#13. Automotive and watercraft service attendants

- Share who have never been married: 72.3%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 93,000 people

#12. Tutors

- Share who have never been married: 72.7%
- Median annual salary: $40,000 ($8,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 162,000 people

#11. Motion picture projectionists

- Share who have never been married: 75.4%
- Median annual salary: $35,000 ($13,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3,000 people

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#10. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other

- Share who have never been married: 77.5%
- Median annual salary: $34,000 ($14,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 86,000 people

#9. Medical transcriptionists

- Share who have never been married: 78.2%
- Median annual salary: $37,000 ($11,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 52,000 people

#8. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

- Share who have never been married: 81.6%
- Median annual salary: $44,000 ($4,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 24,000 people

#7. Residential advisors

- Share who have never been married: 83.6%
- Median annual salary: $38,000 ($10,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 89,000 people

#6. Parking attendants

- Share who have never been married: 84.5%
- Median annual salary: $33,000 ($15,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 118,000 people

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#5. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

- Share who have never been married: 85.3%
- Median annual salary: $30,000 ($18,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 118,000 people

#4. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Share who have never been married: 86%
- Median annual salary: $36,000 ($12,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 15,000 people

#3. Fast food and counter workers

- Share who have never been married: 86.4%
- Median annual salary: $30,000 ($19,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 3.7 million people

#2. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

- Share who have never been married: 86.7%
- Median annual salary: $29,000 ($19,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 425,000 people

#1. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers

- Share who have never been married: 90.1%
- Median annual salary: $30,000 ($18,000 below the national median for all jobs)
- Employment nationwide: 124,000 people

Additional writing by Paxtyn Merten. Story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

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