Published analysis

Six jobs differ in sitting, standing, and telework

Compare accountants, electricians, medical assistants, middle school teachers, registered nurses, and software developers using 2023 job requirements.

EduInsightsPublished August 20, 2026

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Question

Start with physical setting. Which jobs are mostly seated, and which involve more standing?

Analyst Agent

Software developers and accountants spent over 90% of the workday sitting in 2023. Electricians stood for 90.3% of the workday.

Question

Now add telework, pace, interaction, and training. Which contrasts matter most?

Analyst Agent

Telework was available for 64.6% of software developers and 51.1% of accountants in 2023. Only 2.8% of registered nurses had telework available in 2023. Medical assistants had the highest reported on-the-job training share at 88.3% in 2023.

Question

Combine those findings in one view. What does this add beyond wage and growth data?

Analyst Agent

The 2023 measures show physical demands, pace, interaction, telework, and training that wage data leaves out. The heatmap keeps those distinct dimensions visible.

National job estimates do not describe every employer, workplace, or worker.

Published artifacts

Six jobs compared by physical demands, pace, telework, and training

The neutral fill means no observed value.
Six jobs compared by physical demands, pace, telework, and training — chart data
Job requirementOccupationWorkers or workday shareCoverage state
On-the-job training requiredAccountants and auditors70.4%Observed
On-the-job training requiredElectricians42.5%Observed
On-the-job training requiredMedical assistants88.3%Observed
On-the-job training requiredMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education34.3%Observed
On-the-job training requiredRegistered nurses72.8%Observed
On-the-job training requiredSoftware developers55.7%Observed
SittingAccountants and auditors91.8%Observed
SittingElectricians9.7%Observed
SittingMedical assistants37.2%Observed
SittingMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education33.9%Observed
SittingRegistered nurses30.7%Observed
SittingSoftware developers93.7%Observed
StandingAccountants and auditors8.2%Observed
StandingElectricians90.3%Observed
StandingMedical assistants62.8%Observed
StandingMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education66.1%Observed
StandingRegistered nurses69.3%Observed
StandingSoftware developers6.3%Observed
Fast work paceAccountants and auditors29.6%Observed
Fast work paceElectricians51.7%Observed
Fast work paceMedical assistants57.1%Observed
Fast work paceMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education39.9%Observed
Fast work paceRegistered nurses54.5%Observed
Fast work paceSoftware developers51%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionAccountants and auditors1.4%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionElectricians16.5%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionMedical assistants46.8%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education65.5%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionRegistered nurses34.7%Observed
Frequent verbal interactionSoftware developers0.7%Observed
Telework availableAccountants and auditors51.1%Observed
Telework availableElectricians—No data supplied
Telework availableMedical assistants—No data supplied
Telework availableMiddle school teachers, except special and career/technical education—No data supplied
Telework availableRegistered nurses2.8%Observed
Telework availableSoftware developers64.6%Observed
Heatmap: software developers and accountants sit most. Electricians, medical assistants, teachers, and registered nurses spend more time standing.

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