39 Best INTP Careers in 2024 (incl. Which to Avoid)
INTP personalities are driven by the left side of their brain, portraying a highly analytic approach to life. They are passionate about all mysteries and use their keen logic and creativity to decode them.
The best INTP careers are science, research, and engineering. Their curious mind and vigorous intellect are valued in these technical and challenging jobs.
There is no one like the INTPs to understand complex processes and find unconventional ways to encompass them.
Fulfilling INTP Career Qualities
INTP personalities are not driven by money, fame, or reputation. They don’t care about their boss’ compliments or the acceptance of their coworkers.
INTPs are fulfilled when quenching their curiosity and meeting their own high standards.
Therefore, a good job for INTP would be related to complex theories and studies. They are passionate about interesting projects and mysteries, which is what makes them stand out.
Therefore, the best career for INTP is in the science domain. A lab is a perfect place to work for an INTP person. There, they can explore new ideas and analyze information without routine work or people’s conversations interrupting them.
1. Analytical
INTP personalities are objective and carefully study everything in their surroundings. They can devote hours to analyzing data or practical devices to patterns of behaviors and personalities.
These individuals have strong problem-solving skills that help them unravel all the puzzles they come across. Therefore, the most suitable INTP professions are research and science. They are not satisfied with what they see on the surface and use their analytic mind to explore what lies behind it.
2. Original
INTP personalities are analytical but do not conform to outdated biases. They always think outside the box and let their creative mind take over.
The vast imagination of INTPs allows them to develop ideas outside the beaten path. As a result, they can produce remarkable breakthroughs that challenge the status quo.
For this reason, the best careers for INTP are freelancers or designers. These jobs let them apply their high standards combine with their original streak.
3. Curious
The purpose of INTPs’ career path is to satisfy their endless curiosity. These individuals jump from one interest to another swiftly, juggling different activities simultaneously. When inspiration strikes, there is nothing and no one to distract them from their tasks.
The best jobs for INTP are in criminal justice and technology. These INTP careers are exciting and innovative enough to keep INTPs’ curiosity satisfied. They don’t mind navigating high-stress environments as long as they are invested in their tasks.
4. Open-Minded
The curiosity and objectivity that characterize INTPs make them open-minded. This encourages them to welcome novel ideas without prejudice or bias as long as they are based on a logical rationale.
Some of the most fulfilling careers for INTP are research and scientific writing. These personalities are bored in structured environments with no room for free thinking.
INTPs are at the forefront of groundbreaking projects that challenge even their own worldview. For this reason, the best INTP jobs allow them to step out of the beaten path.
Best Careers for INTPs
The INTP talents are their keen logic, objective approach, and creative streak. These individuals are curious and need their work to inspire them to perform at their best.
Therefore, the perfect career for an INTP is science. These works are structured and based on reason but are not close to new approaches. Through a controlled environment, INTPs can analyze novel information and alter the course of humanity.
- Air Traffic Controller
- Airline Pilot
- Astronomer
- Auditor
- Biologist
- Budget Analyst
- Building Inspector
- Carpenter
- Chef
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Chiropractor
- Civil Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Cost Estimator
- Criminal Detective
- Entrepreneur
- Exercise Physiologist
- Factory Supervisor
- Farmer or Rancher
- Financial Planner
- Firefighter
- Fitness Instructor
- Flight Attendant
- Flight Engineer
- Forester
- General Contractor
- Land Developer
- Landscape Architect
- Mechanic
- Mechanical Engineer
- Military Officer
- Photographer
- Police Officer
- Property Manager
- Radiology Technician
- Real Estate Broker
- Respiratory Therapist
- Sales Manager
- Scientist
- Stockbroker
Draining INTP Career Qualities
INTP personalities can get easily lost in their train of thought. They don’t easily connect with other people, acting aloof and distant in their everyday work.
Consequently, an INTP career to avoid is psychology and nursing. These jobs require them to be constantly attentive to other people’s needs, which can be draining for INTPs.
1. Slow-moving
INTP personalities are impatient and perfectionists. They spend a lot of time analyzing their theories and find it draining to explain their thought process.
They require their peers to work at the same pace as them in order to reach their goals more quickly. Therefore, the worst careers for INTPs are teaching or social work.
These individuals don’t have the patience to adapt to young people’s times. If their recipient or colleague does not seem sufficiently interested, they will not bother to continue the conversation.
2. Empathetic
INTP personalities place more value on rationality than emotions. This keeps them from being empathetic and connecting more deeply with the people around them.
Many of these individuals believe that feelings are a hindrance to the advancement of humanity. Therefore, they dismiss other people’s emotional struggles.
INTP jobs to avoid are nursing or psychology. They are skillful at analyzing others’ behavior patterns but not at dealing with what’s inside.
3. Monotonous
Although these individuals value logic and reason, they do not like monotonous jobs. After all, they are innovative and creative. INTPs thrive on putting their inspiration into action and learning different new skills.
Some careers for INTP to avoid are finance or accounting. If their career path does not offer novelty, change, and fresh approaches, INTPs will quickly grow bored.
4. Disorganized
INTP personalities may seem unconventional, but their reasoning is based on structured logic. They embrace new proposals and novel ideas as long as they follow a consistent approach.
For this reason, they should avoid jobs in the art domain. INTP at work is organized and methodical, so chaotic environments drive them crazy.
INTPs won’t conceive that work results cannot be objectively quantified. For them, personal emotions and perspectives are not enough motivation.
Worst Careers for INTPs
Every personality type can excel in any career path they set to follow. However, some jobs are better suited for each unique character than others.
The perfect job for INTP personality triggers their analytical mind and original spirit. Therefore, they shouldn’t pursue a career in finance or accountability.
- Animator
- Choreographer
- Clergy
- Craft Artist
- Curator
- Family Therapist
- Librarian
- Musician
- Nursing
- Preschool Teacher
- Public Health Nurse
- Social work
- Veterinary Technician
- Writer
INTP On a Team
The INTP is not a team player. These individuals are aloof and impatient, which prevents them from connecting with the needs of their team. They claim to have the most logical course of action and don’t like to waste time explaining why. Hence, INTP jobs are usually in private settings.
Participating in teams makes INTP feel frustrated. That is why they prefer to work independently as freelancers or in research labs. Thus, they don’t have to deal with other people’s feedback and opinions. They are usually poor contributors and detached if forced to work in groups.
INTP As a Leader
INTPs can be influential leaders as long as their team operates at the same quicker rate of reasoning than they do. Otherwise, they will be impatient and unempathetic leaders who may hurt the feelings of sensitive members.
INTP personalities get straight to the point. Their creative and innovative minds run fast, and they don’t expect the rest to keep up with them. For this reason, the perfect INTP career match doesn’t involve working with many people. They are authoritarian leaders who demand attention from the team to move forward with their tasks.
Working with them can be a delight if you are fully invested in the project they are leading. These personalities’ passion and curiosity inspire and motivate their team.
