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Software developers and data entry keyers have the highest possible sitting rating.
Our analysis of occupational data reveals the jobs with the highest sitting requirements, with software developers and data entry keyers at the top of the ranking.
How much of the working day do different jobs require employees to spend sitting?
For some occupations, sitting is closely connected to how the work is performed. Writing code, entering data, reviewing financial information and preparing legal documents can all involve long periods at a workstation.
To identify the occupations with the highest sitting requirements, NAVO analyzed occupational data from O*NET OnLine, a public database developed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The analysis reveals a sharp divide between occupations where sitting is a major part of the job and those where standing and movement are much more prominent.
Software developers and data entry keyers recorded the highest possible O*NET sitting rating of 100, meaning sitting is required "continually or almost continually" in these occupations. Financial managers followed with a rating of 94, while lawyers recorded 93.
Seven of the 18 occupations analyzed recorded a sitting rating of 75 or higher, placing them in NAVO's high-sitting category.
At the other end of the spectrum, construction laborers recorded a sitting rating of 0, showing how much sitting requirements can vary between occupations.
Key findings
*Software Developers and Data Entry Keyers recorded the highest possible sitting rating of 100.
*Financial Managers recorded a sitting rating of 94.
*Lawyers recorded a sitting rating of 93.
*Seven of the 18 occupations analyzed recorded a sitting rating of 75 or higher.
*Customer Service Representatives recorded a sitting rating of 78.
*Registered Nurses had the lowest sitting rating in the top 10, at 47.
*Construction Laborers recorded the lowest sitting rating across the occupations analyzed, at 0.
*The difference between the highest and lowest sitting ratings was 100 points.
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The 10 Jobs That Spend the Most Time Sitting
| Rank | Occupation | Time Spent Sitting | Reason for High Sitting Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developers | 100% | Computer-based coding and screen work. |
| 2 | Data Entry Keyers | 100% | Extended data entry and keyboard work. |
| 3 | Financial Managers | 94% | Financial analysis, reporting, and computer work. |
| 4 | Lawyers | 93% | Research, document review, and desk work. |
| 5 | Dental Hygienists | 81% | Seated during detailed patient procedures. |
| 6 | Receptionists & Information Clerks | 81% | Desk-based calls, scheduling, and computer tasks. |
| 7 | Customer Service Representatives | 78% | Phone and computer-based customer support. |
| 8 | Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 61% | Driving, reporting, and administrative work. |
| 9 | Ophthalmologists | 50% | Patient consultations, examinations, and record reviews. |
| 10 | Registered Nurses | 47% | Documentation, records, and administrative tasks. |
Why Are These Jobs So Desk-Based?
The occupations at the top of the ranking have one major thing in common: sitting is closely connected to the tasks involved in doing the job.
For software developers and data entry keyers, computers are central to almost every aspect of the role. Financial managers and lawyers also spend significant amounts of time reviewing information, preparing documents, analyzing data and completing administrative tasks.
Customer service representatives and receptionists may interact with people throughout the day, but much of that interaction can still take place from a workstation using a computer or telephone.
Other occupations have very different physical demands.
Registered nurses, for example, combine patient care, walking, standing, documentation and other activities throughout their shifts. Their sitting rating of 47 is considerably lower than the occupations at the top of the ranking.
The data therefore suggests that workplace movement is closely tied to the nature of the occupation itself.
Seven Occupations Have a High Sitting Requirement
The analysis identified seven occupations with sitting ratings of 75 or higher:
Software Developers - 100
Data Entry Keyers - 100
Financial Managers - 94
Lawyers - 93
Dental Hygienists - 81
Receptionists & Information Clerks -81
Customer Service Representatives - 78
Together, these occupations represent 39% of the 18 occupations profiled.
A further two occupations had sitting ratings between 50 and 74, placing them in the study’s moderate sitting category.
Sitting vs Standing: The Biggest Workplace Divide
The contrast becomes even clearer when the sitting ratings are considered alongside O*NET's separate standing measure.
| Occupation | Sitting Rating | Standing Rating | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 100% | 0% | +100 sitting |
| Data Entry Keyers | 100% | 11% | +89 sitting |
| Financial Managers | 94% | 19% | +75 sitting |
| Lawyers | 93% | 18% | +75 sitting |
| Dental Hygienists | 81% | 29% | +52 sitting |
| Receptionists & Information Clerks | 81% | 31% | +50 sitting |
| Customer Service Representatives | 78% | 33% | +45 sitting |
| Registered Nurses | 47% | 49% | -2 standing |
| Postal Mail Carriers | 45% | 62% | -17 standing |
| Construction Laborers | 0% | 93% | -93 standing |
The figures show just how different the physical demands of jobs can be.
Software developers and data entry keyers had the highest sitting ratings, while construction labourers had the lowest sitting rating and a high standing rating.
Registered nurses were one of the closest to a balance between sitting and standing, with a sitting rating of 47 and a standing rating of 49.
What This Means for Modern Workplaces
The findings show that employees can experience very different working days depending on their occupation.
For highly desk-based roles such as software development, data entry, financial management, law, customer service and reception, sitting is closely linked to how the work is performed.
That does not mean sitting needs to be eliminated. Instead, workplaces can make it easier for employees to change position and move throughout the day.
Height-adjustable desks, ergonomic seating and flexible workstation setups give employees more choice in how they work and can help them stay comfortable as their tasks change.
At NAVO, we help businesses across the UAE create flexible, comfortable workspaces with ergonomic office furniture designed for modern workplaces.
For primarily computer-based roles, height-adjustable desks offer an easy way to switch between sitting and standing without changing workstations.
Methodology
NAVO analyzed occupational data from O*NET OnLine, a public database of occupational information developed for the U.S. Department of Labor.
The study examined 20 occupations, with complete sitting and standing profiles available for 18 occupations included in the final analysis.
The analysis used ONET’s “Spend Time Sitting” Work Context descriptor, which measures how much an occupation typically requires sitting. ONET uses a 0–100 scale:
100 — Continually or almost continually
75 — More than half the time
50 — About half the time
25 — Less than half the time
0 — Never
The occupations were ranked from highest to lowest based on their sitting rating. NAVO also looked at O*NET’s “Spend Time Standing” descriptor to provide additional context about the physical nature of each occupation. This uses the same 0–100 scale.
How to interpret the data
These ratings describe occupational work context, rather than measuring the exact behaviour of individual workers.
For example, a sitting rating of 100 means O*NET places the occupation at the highest point of its sitting scale, described as “continually or almost continually.” It does not mean that every worker in that occupation sits for exactly 100% of their working day.
Sitting and standing are also independent measures. They should not be added together or treated as percentages that must equal 100.
The ratings are intended to show differences in the physical nature of different occupations, rather than describe the exact daily routine of every worker.
NAVO’s Sitting Categories
For this analysis, NAVO grouped occupations based on their O*NET sitting rating:
High sitting: 75–100
Moderate: 50–74
Low: 25–49
Minimal: 0–24
These categories were created by NAVO for this analysis only. They are not official O*NET classifications or medical risk categories.
O*NET’s Work Context data describes the physical and social factors that shape different types of work and is maintained as part of its ongoing occupational data collection programme.
Data was collected and analyzed in July 2026.
Full data and methodology:
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