Are you outgoing and outdoorsy? How about mild-mannered and detail-oriented?People's personalities can play a major role in their career choices. For example, someone who prefers being active and working in the sunshine might be miserable in a sedentary desk job. Likewise, people who prefer working alone might not excel in a team environment.Knowing this, Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin examined the relationship between personality and careers in their book "50 Best Jobs for Your Personality" (JIST). They began with looking at six personality types created in the 1950s by career guidance researcher John Holland.Farr and Shatkin then created a database of about 1,000 job titles using information from the Occupational Information Network, U.S. Census Bureau and other sources, rating these jobs in terms of the six personality types. They then ranked the jobs by annual earnings, projected growth and projected yearly job openings.According to the researchers, the following jobs emerged as the top three for each personality type:Type one: RealisticAccording to Farr and Shatkin's book, realistic personalities like work that includes hands-on problems and solutions. They enjoy outdoor work, including working with plants, animals, wood, tools and machinery. Many realistic personalities do not enjoy handling a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.Top jobs: Highway patrol pilots -- Pilot airplanes to maintain order, respond to emergencies and enforce traffic and criminal laws. Annual earnings: $44,020. Expected growth: 24.7 percent. Annual job openings: 67,000.Electricians -- Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. Annual earnings: $41,680. Expected growth: 23.4 percent. Annual job openings: 65,000.Pipe fitters -- Lay out, assemble, install and maintain pipe systems, pipe supports and related equipment. Annual earnings: $40,950. Expected growth: 18.7 percent. Annual job openings: 56,000.Type two: InvestigativeInvestigative personalities prefer ideas and thinking over physical activity. They like to search for facts and figures and solve problems mentally, preferring these types of tasks over persuading or leading people.Top jobs:Engineering teachers, postsecondary -- Teach the physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes and services. Annual earnings: $69,700. Expected growth: 38.1 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.Computer software engineers, systems software -- Research, design, develop and test operating systems-level software, compilers and network distribution software. Annual earnings: $76,240. Expected growth: 45.5 percent. Annual openings: 39,000.Computer software engineers, applications -- Develop, create and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Annual earnings: $72,530. Expected growth: 45.5 percent. Annual openings: 55,000.Type three: ArtisticArtistic personalities like working with forms, designs and patterns. They like self-expression in their work and prefer less-structured settings without following a clear set of rules. Here, again, postsecondary teaching jobs dominate the best-jobs list.Top jobs:Art, drama and music teachers, postsecondary -- Teach courses in drama, music and the arts beyond the high school level. Annual earnings: $47,980. Expected growth: 38.1 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.English-language and literature teachers, postsecondary -- Teach classes in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Annual earnings: $47,120. Expected growth: 38.1 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary -- Teach classes in non-English languages and literature beyond the high school level. Annual earnings: $46,780. Expected growth: 38.1 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.Type four: SocialSocial personalities like working, communicating and teaching people. They like to assist others and promote learning and personal development, preferring to communicate over working with objects, machines or data.Top jobs:Economics teachers, postsecondary -- Teach courses in economics and how society distributes scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials and machinery. Annual earnings: $64,950. Expected growth: 31.8 percent. Annual opening: 216,000.Anthropology and archaeology teachers, postsecondary -- Teach courses in anthropology and archaeology beyond the high school level. Annual earnings: $59,710. Expected growth: 31.8 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.Political science teachers, postsecondary -- Teach courses in political science, international affairs and international relations beyond the high school level. Annual earnings: $57,340. Expected growth: 38.1 percent. Annual openings: 216,000.Type five: EnterprisingEnterprising personalities like to start up and carry out projects, especially business ventures. They like to lead people and make decisions and prefer action over extensive thought.Top jobs:Sales managers -- Direct the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Annual earnings: $80,470. Expected growth: 30.5 percent. Annual openings: 54,000.Management analysts -- Conduct organizational studies, evaluations and other duties to assist businesses in operating more efficiently and effectively. Annual earnings: $62,580. Expected growth: 30.4 percent. Annual openings: 78,000.Computer and information systems managers -- Plan, direct or coordinate activities in fields, including electronic data processing and computer programming. Annual earnings: $89,740. Expected growth: 36.1 percent. Annual openings: 39,000.Type six: ConventionalConventional personalities prefer work activities with set rules and procedures. They prefer working with details and data over working with ideas. They like precise standards and having a clear line of authority to follow.Top jobs:Accountants -- Analyze financial information and prepare reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities or other financial activities within an organization. Annual earnings: $49,060. Expected growth: 19.5 percent. Annual openings: 119,000.Customer service representatives, utilities -- Interview applicants for water, gas, electric or telephone service, and talk with customers to receive orders for installation, discontinuance or changes in service. Annual earnings: $26,500. Expected growth: 24.3 percent. Annual openings: 419,000.Cost estimators -- Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects or services. Annual earnings: $48,290. Expected growth: 18.6 percent. Annual openings: 25,000.Laura Morsch is a writer for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.