Since its release in 2017, TikTok has quickly become a global phenomenon. Depending on whom you ask, the platform is a relatively benign social media product or a Trojan horse that produces a firehose of data benefitting the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
But one thing everyone can agree on: TikTok has become immensely popular over a short period of time.
With its endless stream of user-generated short-from videos and its seemingly prescient algorithm, designed to keep you scrolling, the platform – owned by Beijing-based ByeDance – now boasts more than 1 billion monthly active users, according to search engine optimization advisor Backlinko. By comparison, it took Twitter 17 years to amass about 400 million MAUs – though 19-year-old Facebook remains the reigning champ with 2.9 billion MAUs.
A report by Statista in 2020 claims that entertainment-themed content (including clips from TV programs, movies, video games, and user-created skits) is by far the top TikTok category at about 535 billion views since the platform went live. The second-most popular category is dance, mostly user-generated foot-shuffles accompanied by samples of popular songs, with 181 billion views. But TikTok has also become a popular platform for content related to numerous professions, especially those related to health and wellness. (See which are the careers with the most job security.)
To compile a list of the most popular professions appearing on TikTok, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a study by RegisteredNursing.org. The site compiled a list of professions based on the U.S. News 100 Best Jobs list and narrowed it down to 35 by removing professions with little to no representation on TikTok. Careers that overlapped with others, such as management and analyst titles within the same field were also removed. The ranking is based on the number of TikTok views associated with hashtags for each profession (ex. #Doctor) as of May 9, 2023. In cases where the number of views is a tie, 24/7 Tempo adjusted the order of professions to rank those employing the greater number of people higher.
Of the 35 professions on the list, 20 relate directly or indirectly to the medical profession, with “Doctor” at No. 1 with almost 62 billion views and “Nurse’ at No. 3 with almost 42 billion. The No. 2 slot is held by “Teacher,” with just over 61 billion views. (These are the highest paid doctors in America.)
35. Public relations specialist
> Number of views (2023): 12.0 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $62,800 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 276,800
34. Massage therapist
> Number of views (2023): 13.8 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $46,910 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 149,900
33. Dietitian
> Number of views (2023): 57.9 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $61,650 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 74,700
32. Speech-language pathologist
> Number of views (2023): 101.6 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $84,140 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 159,800
31. Occupational therapist
> Number of views (2023): 187.4 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $85,570 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 133,900
30. Financial advisor
> Number of views (2023): 205.5 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $94,170 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 330,300
29. Psychiatrist
> Number of views (2023): 256.3 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $220,430 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 42,520
28. Counselor
> Number of views (2023): 260.2 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $48,520 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 351,000
27. Physical therapist
> Number of views (2023): 395.1 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $95,620 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 238,800
26. Nail technician
> Number of views (2023): 475.2 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $29,210 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 163,600
25. Software developer
> Number of views (2023): 498.6 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $109,020 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 1,622,200
24. Web developer
> Number of views (2023): 512.3 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $87,580 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 42,660
23. Pediatrician
> Number of views (2023): 673.7 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $203,240 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 33,010
22. Landscaper
> Number of views (2023): 756.5 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $37,270 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 756,370
21. Optometrist
> Number of views (2023): 878.2 million
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $124,300 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 41,400
20. Physician assistant
> Number of views (2023): 1.2 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $121,530 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 139,100
19. Psychologist
> Number of views (2023): 1.2 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $81,040 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 181,600
18. Delivery driver
> Number of views (2023): 1.2 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $36,660 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 1,640,600
17. Dental hygienist
> Number of views (2023): 3.4 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $77,810 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 214,000
16. Pharmacist
> Number of views (2023): 3.7 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $128,570 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 323,500
15. Orthodontist
> Number of views (2023): 4.1 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $163,220 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 146,200
14. Personal trainer
> Number of views (2023): 8.4 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $40,700 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 306,400
13. Accountant
> Number of views (2023): 8.7 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $77,250 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 1,449,800
12. Veterinarian
> Number of views (2023): 8.8 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $100,370 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 86,300
11. Police officer
> Number of views (2023): 9.7 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $66,020 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 808,200
10. Firefighter
> Number of views (2023): 12.4 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $50,700 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 326,100
9. Lawyer
> Number of views (2023): 12.4 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $127,990 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 833,100
8. Electrician
> Number of views (2023): 12.7 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $60,040 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 711,200
7. Chiropractor
> Number of views (2023): 18.6 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $75,000 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 53,200
6. Pilot
> Number of views (2023): 19.9 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $134,630 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 135,300
5. Dentist
> Number of views (2023): 32.8 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $163,220 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 146,200
4. Chef
> Number of views (2023): 35.1 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $60,210 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 134,120
3. Nurse
> Number of views (2023): 41.7 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $77,600 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 3,130,600
2. Teacher
> Number of views (2023): 61.3 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $66,450 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 93,610
1. Doctor
> Number of views (2023): 61.5 billion
> Nationwide median salary (2021): $208,000 a year
> Total US employment (2021): 761,700