Nursing Is The Most Respected Profession In The U.S.

The Gallup Poll has done its annual poll on which are the most and least respected professions in the United States. They did their survey between December 4th and 11th of a random national sample of 1,049 adults, and it has a margin of error of 4 points.

They asked the poll respondents to rate each profession on honesty and ethical standards. Once again, nurses were ranked the highest (82%) -- 11 points higher than the second place (military officers) (71%).

Members of Congress were rated as having the lowest honesty and ethical standards (60%) -- two points lower than second lowest (lobbyists) (58%)

Perhaps surprising to some is the fact that the clergy slipped further down on the honesty and ethical standards scale. The clergy has been heading downward for the past couple of decades -- from 64% in 2001 to 42% in 2017 (a drop of 22 points).