15 Best Jobs For People With ADHD

If you’re someone who struggles to pay attention for long periods or even long enough to read this entire article, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that across the globe, about 7.2% of the children out there have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

And ADHD is not just a childhood illness. It’s thought that some of the symptoms and impairment from ADHD persist in 50-85% of adults who had an ADHD diagnosis as children.

What does that mean for you in the long run? It means you can live a completely happy, healthy, and wonderful life. ADHD doesn’t need to slow you down at all. Some people prefer medications to help them focus; others just take the diagnosis as part of their lives and learn to adapt.

Part of living with ADHD is finding the right job. Let’s face it, some jobs are not going to fit with the way your brain works, but there are some great jobs that seem to be made just for you. Focus on the positive and think about one of the following career paths:

Teacher

Average Yearly Salary: $46,000

Yes, teaching can be a great job for people with ADHD. You’re not stuck doing the same task eight hours a day, every day of the week. Each hour you have a fresh batch of kids, and they’ll always keep you on your toes, and that’s something you’re very good at.

In addition to being uniquely able to bounce from one class to the next and from one student to the next, you have empathy and can help children with learning disorders in a kind and compassionate way that others may not be able to give.

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Day Care Provider

Average Yearly Salary: $24,000

If you love working with little ones but aren’t interested in getting a teaching certificate or creating lesson plans, why not give daycare a try. Daycare providers get to play all day long, and they have some of the best playmates, creative children who are always ready for something new.

You can teach them, watch them grow and develop, you’ll get to hear all of their crazy stories, and you’ll develop some bonds that can last a lifetime.

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Social Worker

Average Yearly Salary: $51,000

Another job where your built-in compassion comes in handy is as a social worker. People with ADHD tend to be passionate about things that matter to them, and if you’re someone who cares about others and wants to help, then this is a fantastic way for you to take your interests and turn them into a job where you will thrive.

It’s a busy job, lots to do, and no day will be exactly like another. These are strong points for you.

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Emergency Doctor

Average Yearly Salary: $30,000

If you’ve found a way to manage school and do well, then run with it and spend the time earning your degree as a medical doctor specializing in emergency room medicine. This is a very challenging field, and you’re always up for a challenge.

Switching gears at a moment’s notice is what you excel at, and that’s exactly what is needed to succeed in this field. One minute you might be dealing with a gunshot victim, and the next, you’re pulling peas out of a two-year-old’s nose.

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Nurse

Average Yearly Salary: $59,000

Just about any nursing job is going to keep you on your toes. There are different types of nursing jobs: some require a lot of schooling, and some don’t require too much after high school.

There are also many different areas where nurses can work, and not all of them are doctor’s offices or hospitals. Some nurses work on cruise ships, schools, insurance companies, patients’ homes, and many other places.

Nursing is such an open field. You can pick what type of work you want to do and where you want to do it, and off you go. This is an in-demand profession, so your job security is pretty great.

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Athletic Trainer

Average Yearly Salary: $42,000

If fitness is your thing, take all of that energy and funnel it into helping someone achieve their fitness goals. Athletic trainers or fitness specialists can hold various jobs, and there are different levels of education you can attain.

Some people just want to start working in a gym right after high school; others will become certified athletic trainers, personal trainers, rehabilitation counselors, etc.

You could work at your local gym or go on to work in another city, work for a professional business office, work in conjunction with a doctor’s office, train amateur and professional athletes, it’s a broad open field, and the best part is you get to stay active all day long.

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Copy Editor

Average Yearly Salary: $47,000

If you love language and words but aren’t interested in the tedious task of sitting down and writing, that’s fine because the world needs editors just as much as they need great stories and articles.

Copy editors tend to be very busy and sometimes even overworked, switching from one project to another. There’s a lot of activity and expert knowledge necessary, and you’re constantly working under deadlines. These are all things you’re good at, and you secretly love the pressure of a deadline.

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News Reporter

Average Yearly Salary: $38,000

Each day is different, and you get to tell the entire world why. Some days you’ll be running from the courthouse where a verdict is coming in, and then you’re off to a ribbon-cutting at a new school.

It’s all different, and your ability to juggle these diverse activities and make them fit is what puts you at the top of your field. You’ll love the excitement and drama behind this job, and meeting different people throughout the day might also be a big plus for you.

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Police Officer

Average Yearly Salary: $47,000

People with ADHD tend to love high-intensity jobs and a fast-paced environment. While there will be hours of driving around for the average police officer, at least you’re not chained to a desk.

And when something happens, you’re instantly fueled with adrenaline and ready to go. This career also plays well with your inherent empathy and desire to help others. While it may begin to feel like a grind at times, if you step back, you’ll see this is a fresh job every day.

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Probation/Parole Officer

Average Yearly Salary: $44,000

Walking the line between a police officer and social worker, a probation/parole officer helps people who have had criminal problems in the past and tries to put them on the straight and narrow.

But it’s more than that; people working this job need to know the system and offer help in the form of vocational training, addiction programs, support for families, and more.

A lot is going on every day, and you will need to offer sound advice regularly. It’s a great way to show that you care and are willing to help. Who knows, you might be the one person who can positively change another individual’s life.

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Military

Average Yearly Salary: $61,000

Some people with ADHD enjoy a lot of structure in their lives. This helps them stay on track and feel like they’re accomplishing something. There’s almost nothing like the structure that the military provides.

It’s not just a good professional option for people with ADHD; it can also be a way to learn a trade and find a career once you’re done with your military commitment. Opting to follow a path that leads to the military can be very beneficial in several ways.

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Entertainer

Average Yearly Salary: $61,000

If you have any talents in the entertainment world, this can be a wonderful outlet for all of your energy. For people with ADHD who have a creative drive, the need to do their “thing” is very powerful.

There’s that spark of passion that makes this the one thing they can focus on, and that’s a great talent that can turn into a career. Performers get to play to different crowds in different venues. It’s always new, and often the performance is new as well.

That racing brain often leads to exciting and innovative ways, and that’s what it takes to be a truly inspired artist and performer.

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Graphic Designer

Average Yearly Salary: $45,000

Take your artistic skills and creative ideas into the world of publishing or marketing as a graphic designer. This field is a hot one with openings across the globe.

In fact, in today’s gig market, you can easily set up shop from your living room and have clients in different countries clamoring for your skilled artistic abilities.

This is a nice profession for people who regularly like a fresh challenge but enjoy being creative. It’s a new design, logo, or artwork with every client.

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Food Industry

Average Yearly Salary: N/A

Whether you’re working behind the scenes as a chef or in front of the house as a host, working in the field of food can be a great choice for people who have ADHD. There’s structure, which can be nice for some, yet every day is slightly different.

This is also a job that anyone can go into. There is not a lot of required education, and culinary school is a bit different than earning a bachelor’s degree. This might just be the best job around for people who don’t like school or have a hard time with it.
Software Developer

Average Yearly Salary: $80,000

If you love the world of computers and can get lost in code, then you might love being a software developer. This job requires thinking outside of the box and finding novel solutions.

This can be great for people who have a racing and rushing mind as they grab onto ideas and can run with them. Being deep into tech and changes in this world makes you a shoo-in for this position and will keep you happy and gainfully employed.

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Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.

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