What are Poland's most (and least) valued professions? Doctors, nurses, or educators? Can you guess who came out on top?

According to a new survey conducted by the Polish Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS), firefighters are the most esteemed profession in Poland, with 94 percent of respondents holding a high regard for them. Nurses come in second (89 percent), followed by professional staff such as masons or lathe operators (84 percent), miners (84 percent), and university professors (83 percent ). Doctors (80 percent ) and teachers (77 percent ) come next in the ranking, ahead of factory engineers (76%), farmers (76%) and accountants (75%).

It is perhaps unsurprising that professions regarded as highly valuable to society or synonymous with assisting others command universal respect. However, the CBOS report states that some occupations can rank differently depending on the respondents' socioeconomic status. Professors, for example, are held in high regard by university graduates, while professional workers and miners are held in much higher regard by those with lower educational attainment. Residents of larger cities have very favourable views of physicians, teachers, and factory engineers; however, the work of farmers is mostly admired by residents of the country's rural areas. According to the CBOS, such professions (for example, nurses) can be held in high regard for performing difficult yet underpaid work.

Poles are more likely to share negative views on politicians or people in positions of authority, who are judged based on their political affiliation, according to the ranking.

Poland's Most Respected Professions