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On average, workers spent 44.9 percent of the workday sitting in 2025
February 09, 2026
On average, workers spent 44.9 percent of the workday sitting and 55.1 percent standing in 2025. Some workers have more opportunities to sit than others. For instance, software developers spent 97.1 percent of their day sitting. Marketing managers (93.2 percent), lawyers (86.4 percent), and fundraisers (85.6 percent) also spent more time sitting than standing at work.
Percent of workday required to sit and stand, all workers and selected occupations, 2025
Occupation
Sitting
Standing
Software developers
97.1
2.9
Marketing managers
93.2
6.8
Lawyers
86.4
13.6
Fundraisers
85.6
14.4
Civil engineers
76.6
23.4
Dental assistants
49.6
50.4
All workers
44.9
55.1
Firefighters
43.3
56.7
Security guards
38.1
61.9
Pharmacists
27.7
72.3
Electricians
11.3
88.7
Chefs and head cooks
11.2
88.8
Construction laborers
10.8
89.2
Carpenters
5.8
94.2
Dishwashers
1.8
98.2
Bartenders
1.7
98.3
Waiters and waitresses
1.4
98.6
Bakers
-
98.9
Note: Dashes indicate that the estimate was not publishable or there are no workers with the requirement.
At the other end of the sit-stand scale were four food related occupations with workers that averaged more than 98.0 percent of the workday on their feet: bakers, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, and dishwashers.
Dental assistants split their workday a bit more evenly between standing (50.4 percent) and sitting (49.6 percent).
United States Department of Labor
