Gigs and cigs: Smoking rates in 22 occupations

Does what you do determine whether you smoke? Not exactly. But a new government report shows that smoking is a lot more common among workers in some occupations than in others. Who smokes least? Who smokes most? Keep clicking to see which gigs are linked to most cigs...

22. Teachers and librarians

smoking academic, teacher, professor, librarian, smoking, cigarette — Flickr/sashamd

No smoking in the library or classroom? Looks like professionals take these rules to heart. CDC data show that teachers and librarians are less likely to light up than the members of any other occupation - only 31.4 percent smoke.

21. Scientists

This undated file photo shows famed physicist Albert Einstein. Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, the world's largest physics lab, say they have clocked subatomic particles, called neutrinos, traveling faster than light — AP Photo

Do smart people smoke? Biological, physical and social sciences are among the least likely to smoke - only 9.2 percent do.

20. Lawyers

smoking, businessman, lawyer, cigarette, stock, 4x3, smoke — istockphoto

Lawyers can't seem to make a good case for smoking - only 9.4 percent of lawyers, judges, and legal support workers smoke.

19. Counselors and social workers

How does smoking make therapists feel? One thing's for sure - only 10.9 percent of counselors, social workers, and religious workers light up.

18. Health-care practicioners

doctor, surgeon, smoking, cigarette, tobacco, stock, 4x3, rebel — istockphoto

Smoking is bad for your health - right? That doesn't stop 11.8 percent of doctors, nurses and other health-care practitioners who help diagnose and treat patients from smoking.

17. Computer and math specialists

geek, nerd, computer science, math, dork, stock, smoking, cigarette, night owl, late night, 4x3 — istockphoto

Do computer geeks and math geniuses smoke? Of those surveyed, 12.8 said yes.

16. Architects and engineers

smoking, architect — Flickr/Night Owl City

Architects, surveyors, engineers and mapping technicians - 13.6 of people in these fields smoke.

15. Business and finance specialists

smoking businessman stock — Flickr/Michael

How much money does a cigarette habit cost? Ask the 14.1 percent of business and finance specialists who smoke.

14. Artists, designers, entertainers, sports and media workers

It's not just for show - 14.9 percent of people in these fields smoke.

13. Executives and managers

smoking, office, businesswoman, executive, boss, manager, stock, 4x3 — istockphoto

How does Big Tobacco fare among big bosses? Of chief executives and other managers, 16.3 percent smoke.

12. Firefighters and protective service workers

smoking fireman, firefighter — Flickr/Andrea Zeppilli

They might be trained to snuff out fires, but 16.4 percent of firefighters - and other protective service workers - light up cigarettes.

11. Office and administrative support workers

office, smoking, businesswoman, secretary, cigarette, stock, 4x3 — istockphoto

Secretaries, clerks, and other administrative support workers shuffle puffs as well as papers - 19.0 percent smoke.

10. Personal care and service workers

hairdresser, smoking — Flickr/pedrosimoes7

Almost one in five - 19.7 percent - personal care and service workers smoke. This includes animal caretakers, funeral service workers, hairdressers, and hotel attendants.

9. Farmers, fishers, and loggers

smoking, fisherman, cigarette — Flickr/James Hawley

Think those working in the great outdoors breathe only fresh air? Think again - 20.1 percent of farmers, fishers and loggers smoke.

8. Salespeople

salesman, smoking, salesperson, cigarette — Flickr/Hillary Chapin-Bishop

Tobacco sales are high among salespeople - 20.7 percent smoke.

7. Building cleaners and maintenance workers

building cleaner, maintenance — Flickr/Jerry Brague

The people sweeping up cigarette butts may be the same people who leave them - 22.9 percent of building cleaners and maintenance workers smoke.

6. Health-care assistants

Home health aides, nursing aides, occupational and physical therapists' assistants - 23.7 percent of those helping out in health also help themselves to cigarettes.

5. Production workers

Of workers behind the production of everything from fabrics and furnishings to food to metal, plastic and wood - 26.1 percent smoke.

4. Mechanics, installers, and repairers

Don't be surprised if a mechanic shows up with a toolkit in one hand and a cigarette in the other - 27.2 percent of mechanics, installers and repairers smoke.

3. Transportation workers

taxi, driver, smoking, smoker, cigarette — istockphoto

How many transportation workers smoke? Nearly one in three - or 28.7 percent. This includes workers in air, rail, water, and motor vehicles.

2. Cooks, servers, and food preparation workers

smoke break, chef, cook, smoking — Flickr/Hanna Eliasson

Cooks smoke more than just meat - 30 percent of cooks, servers and food preparation workers smoke cigarettes.

1. Construction workers

construction worker, smoking — Flickr/ernop

Construction workers know all about nails - and that goes for "coffin nails" as well as the kind you drive in the wood. The data show that a whopping 31.4 percent of construction and extraction workers (such as miners) light up.