Management and chartered accountants have higher job satisfaction than tax experts, however, these roles pale in comparison to hairdressers, fitness pros and teachers.

The survey by the University of Bath found that accountants and management consultants ranked just 29th in UK job satisfaction, while tax advisers were further down the chart in 42nd place.

Corporate managers and officials were in the top spot, just pipping hairdressers.

Librarians, teachers and fitness experts also had more job satisfaction than accounting professionals.

But accountants had more satisfaction than those in the legal profession, salespeople and builders.

Journalists and media professionals ranked 50th.

'Individual job satisfaction is made up of a range of factors including material rewards, such as pay and conditions of employment, and symbolic rewards, such as prestige,' said professor Michael Rose from the University of Bath who carried out the research, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council

'The most important factor in determining the levels of job satisfaction in the survey is the managerial skill in creating a sense of involvement.'

Further reading:

Training and education special: career specialisation

Work life balance: slow down