If Your Partner Has One of These Jobs, They Are Statistically More Likely to Cheat
It might seem surprising, but a person’s job can sometimes affect the chances of infidelity. Research, surveys, and anonymous data from extramarital dating sites consistently point to certain professions where cheating is reported more often. This does not mean people in these roles are unfaithful by default, but the pattern appears often enough to catch attention and invite a closer look.
Healthcare Workers
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According to data from Ashley Madison, about 23% of their female users work in the medical field. It’s a high-stress profession with long shifts and significant time spent away from home. In surveys of extramarital dating site users, healthcare workers appear more frequently than many other professions.
Tradesmen
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Electricians, mechanics, and plumbers made up almost 30% of the male users surveyed on Ashley Madison. These are hands-on jobs with irregular hours and solo assignments, which Ashley Madison suggests may make it easier for some individuals to conceal time away from home.
CEOs and Executives
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Power, prestige, and authority have all been linked to higher rates of infidelity. A study using General Social Survey data found that nearly 1 in 5 men in high-prestige roles—including CEOs—reported cheating. The job often brings increased visibility and attention, which research suggests can create more opportunities for extramarital encounters, though it does not cause them outright.
Entrepreneurs
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Working for yourself often means setting your own schedule and making your own travel plans. Since entrepreneurs typically operate with greater independence, some surveys suggest that this flexibility may lead to reduced external oversight of their time. The freedom of self-employment may simply create conditions.
Teachers
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One Ashley Madison report found that 12% of female cheaters worked in education. Teaching involves emotional labor, classroom management, and after-hours responsibilities that extend beyond the school day. Survey data shows education appearing among reported professions, but no research confirms that teaching itself increases the likelihood of infidelity.
Finance Professionals
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Women in finance, including analysts, bankers, and brokers, frequently appeared in dating-site user data. Ashley Madison’s numbers suggested a noticeable presence from high-stakes money management roles.
Retail and Hospitality Workers
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These jobs often require constant interaction with new people and long hours on your feet. Ashley Madison reports placed retail and hospitality among the top professions reported by both men and women. These roles frequently involve unconventional schedules and social environments, factors that dating-site reports associate with increased opportunity rather than guaranteed behavior.
IT Professionals
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Tech workers also appeared in dating-site occupation lists. While some reports reference IT professionals among active users, no verified data provides precise infidelity percentages by profession.
Unemployed Men
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GSS data revealed that men who aren’t employed are more likely to report infidelity than those who are working. Researchers suggest that job loss or underemployment can threaten identity and self-worth, which may push some individuals toward external validation through relationships outside their primary partnership.
Lawyers and Legal Professionals
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Legal professions fall within higher-prestige occupational categories, which GSS data associates with higher reported infidelity among men, though the profession itself is not identified as a direct cause. The demands of the role may create conditions that test personal boundaries rather than define behavior.