Pharmacists Remain Among Most Trusted and Ethical Professionals

Pharmacists have once again been ranked among the most honest and ethical professionals in the United States, according to the results of the latest Gallup poll on the topic.

Of the survey’s 1049 respondents, 62% rated the honesty and ethical standards of pharmacists as “high” or “very high.” This percentage of favorable responses was the fifth highest of the survey, with nurses (82%) taking the top spot for the 16^th year in a row.¹

Pharmacists performed slightly better on the survey last year, earning favorable scores from 67% of participants in 2016.²

Other highly rated professionals included in the survey were military officers (71%), grade school teachers (66%), and medical doctors (65%). Lobbyists received the lowest score, with only 8% of survey respondents giving them a favorable rating and 58% considering their ethical and honesty standards to be “low” or “very low.”¹

The full results of the survey, which was conducted via telephone from December 4-11, 2017, can be found in the Table.¹

Table: Americans' Ratings of Honesty and Ethical Standards in Professions (December 2017)¹

Profession

High/Very High

Average

Low/Very Low

Nurses

82%

16%

2%

Military officers

71%

24%

3%

Grade school teachers

66%

27%

5%

Medical doctors

65%

31%

4%

Pharmacists

62%

32%

6%

Police officers

56%

32%

12%

Day care providers

46%

43%

7%

Judges

43%

41%

15%

Clergy

42%

41%

13%

Auto mechanics

32%

53%

14%

Nursing home operators

26%

48%

22%

Bankers

25%

54%

21%

Newspaper reporters

25%

39%

35%

Local officeholders

24%

53%

20%

TV reporters

23%

39%

37%

State officeholders

19%

47%

33%

Lawyers

18%

53%

28%

Business executives

16%

54%

28%

Advertising practitioners

12%

49%

34%

Members of Congress

11%

29%

60%

Car salespeople

10%

48%

39%

Lobbyists

8%

31%

58%

References

• Nurses Keep Healthy Lead as Most Honest, Ethical Profession [news release]. Gallup website. news.gallup.com/poll/224639/nurses-keep-healthy-lead-honest-ethical-profession.aspx. Accessed January 15, 2018.
• Americans Rate Healthcare Providers High on Honesty, Ethics [news release]. Gallup website. news.gallup.com/poll/200057/americans-rate-healthcare-providers-high-honesty-ethics.aspx. Accessed January 15, 2018.