All About the 10th House in Astrology and How It Impacts Your Career, Success, and Social Status

Much like any other house in astrology, your 10th house in astrology will fall at the cusp of a particular zodiac sign in your chart. Learning the sign placement of this house (and which planet(s) it contains, if any) can reveal how you'll experience and approach its associated realms of work, career, and the like, says astrologer Liz Tran, founder of New York City-based corporate wellness coaching studio Reset. With that general information in hand, you'll have a better idea of the types of workplaces, work dynamics, and even specific roles in which you're most likely to thrive. (And learning the placement of other peoples' 10 house in astrology, including your manager's, can help you better understand the same for them.)

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What does the 10th house represent in astrology?

The 10th house informs your approach to all things career and success; it's about the kinds of work that will most fulfill and enrich you and the ways in which you'll garner notoriety, leave a legacy, or otherwise make your mark in this world.

Knowing which sign your 10th house is in can illuminate features that will be helpful in your career and may even provide insight into the very fields in which you may work well. According to astrologer Colin Bedell, author of Queer Cosmos, the 10th house can also deal with parental figures because our deepest motivations around our careers often stem from our family of origin. “It's often about how your family, upbringing, and the ways in which you were raised may instruct how you show up professionally,” he says.

The 10th house can also be interpreted in a more esoteric way as the highest section of the birth chart; it falls physically at the top of the birth-chart circle, as it's typically oriented. “It's the space where we are connected to our highest aspirations, our highest potential, and where we can locate our strengths, gifts, and abilities given to us by God, a higher power, or the universe as we understand it,” says Bedell.

To be sure, the insights provided by the 10th house in astrology are just broad strokes, and not an exact blueprint for you to follow when constructing a career or outlining a life path. Just because your 10th house falls in beauty-loving Libra, for example, doesn't mean you necessarily need to work in fashion or art. To best use your 10th house placement, "look at the general qualities, aspects, and preferences of the sign in that house, and use these to shape your work environment," says Tran.

How do the houses in astrology impact your life?

As noted above, each person’s birth chart is divided into 12 segments, or houses, each of which governs a specific area of life and overlaps with a particular zodiac sign (which denotes how you'll experience that realm of life). For example, the 10th house “speaks to our professional environment—the location, the space, and also the approach that we would want to integrate to see success in that particular house,” says Bedell. So, if your 10th house is in Taurus, for instance, then Taurus-ruled environments (think art, music, and relational health) may help you self-actualize professionally, he says.

"[The 10th house] speaks to our professional environment—the location, the space, and the approach that we would want to integrate to see success." —Colin Bedell, astrologer

All of the planets in your chart are spread across the houses, but not evenly so; meaning, there may be one, multiple, or zero planets in any given house, which can also dictate how you'll experience its associated realm of life (more on this below).

At the same time, each of the 12 houses is also ruled by a particular planet and sign, and understanding the archetypal links between certain signs, planets, and houses can help you better understand their expression in your chart. (You'll note that because there are more houses than planets, certain planets rule over multiple houses.) Here, you'll find a list of each of the houses in astrology, including the area(s) of life with which they correspond and the planets and zodiac signs that rule them:

• 1st house: self-image, perception, and sense of self; Aries and Mars
• 2nd house: personal resources, talents, and values; Taurus and Venus
• 3rd house: communication and information; Gemini and Mercury
• 4th house: home, family, lineage, and foundations; Cancer and the moon
• 5th house: pleasure, creativity, and self-expression; Leo and the sun
• 6th house: health, habits, and routines; Virgo and Mercury
• 7th house: relationships and partnerships; Libra and Venus
• 8th house: regeneration, transformation, sex, and karma; Scorpio and Pluto
• 9th house: higher learning, long distance travel, and wisdom; Sagittarius and Jupiter
• 10th house: career, reputation, and public persona; Capricorn and Saturn
• 11th house: friendship and community; Aquarius and Uranus
• 12th house: the subconscious mind, including dreams and intuition; Pisces and Neptune

How to find your 10th house placement

While, again, each house has an associated sign and planetary ruler, the sign connected to each house in your birth chart will depend on when you were born. To figure out the sign placement of your 10th house, enter your birth date, time, and place into this free natal chart generator. Then, look to the sidebar on the right of your chart to see which sign rules your 10th house.

When looking at your birth chart, pay attention to any planets you might spot in your 10th house, too, because these celestial bodies can also lend their influence to the way you approach 10th house realms, like career and work. For example, if taskmaster Saturn is located in your 10th house, you may go after work tasks with a certain degree of regimented discipline—which is important to consider along with the characteristics of the house's sign placement.

However, don’t fret if your 10th house doesn’t contain a planet; every person's chart will have at least one empty house (the planets and the sun and moon aren't evenly distributed across all 12 houses), and empty houses in astrology just reflect the realms of life in which your chart doesn't have a particular planetary influence. In this case, you can just look to the sign of your 10th house (as well as the ruling planet of that sign) to learn how you can best approach the 10th house realms.

What your 10th house placement means for your career

Aries

If your 10th house is in Aries, Tran says you're a natural leader. "They are real hustlers, entrepreneurs," she says, adding that since they're opinionated, they do well as their own boss. "Aries is like 'I'm here. I know what I'm doing. And everyone else follow me.'"

Taurus

"Taurus represents being in a tangible world," Tran says. "Taurus is more like 'Give me something substantial. I want to build security, and I want to be able to like work with things that are real, physical objects.'" So, those with Taurus in the 10th house may consider banking, finance, jobs related to nature and the Earth, or even running a bed and breakfast.

Gemini

"Gemini is the sign of intelligence, and communication," Tran says. "You would be a great writer, editor, and also be a great person to work on teams because Gemini is the sign of partnership."

And with your 10th house in Gemini—the sign of twins—you may have two separate careers happening simultaneously. "They might be a writer, but then they're also launching their own skin-care line, or they might be an editor, but then they also have a side hustle where they're starting an app," she says.

Cancer

"Cancer is the sign of the nurturer," also representing home life and domesticity, Tran says.

With your 10th house in Cancer, you may really like to work from home. Or, at least to work in a comfortable environment that feels homey (hello, workleisure wardrobe!), with co-workers who feel like family. You likely thrive in fields of nursing, childcare, psychology, or as a stay-at-home parent.

Leo

With a 10th house in Leo, you want a career where you can help others, but also one that's not behind the scenes (the generalized trope of Leo the Lion still holds true here) "This is a person who needs a job where they will be publicly recognized," Tran says. "Leo is a warm-hearted, open, and generous sign that, of course, wants a lot of recognition, but also will give a lot of it back, too."

So while being a singer or dancer might work, so too would being a philanthropist.

Virgo

"Virgos are extremely analytical and perfectionistic, so they'll always do a good job," Tran says. "You can trust that a Virgo will take whatever task is at hand and execute it really beautifully."

You work well in capacities that allow you to improve things, so options like consultant, manager, accountant—anything that requires you to be detail-oriented—are all great.

Libra

Libra is represented by the scales of justice, and gravitates to roles that involve fairness and harmony—like lawyer. "Those who don't feel drawn to the law might be in the arts, because they care about beauty and harmony," Tran says.

Scorpio

The 10th house in Scorpio points to you loving being in control and someone who aggressively chases your goals. You don't like dealing with the superficial, and you enjoy getting into the depths of the human psyche. Tran says psychology and science are great fields for you.

Sagittarius

"Sagittarius really likes to learn about other cultures, likes to read books about different places, and actually really likes to travel a lot," Tran says. "So any role where they can physically travel or mentally travel—go to new places that their mind hasn't been before and learn in order to broaden their horizons—works well."

Great career options for Sag include a philosopher, professor, anthropologist, or asking to be transferred to an international branch of your current company.

Capricorn

"Capricorn is the business person who puts on their suit and really enjoys their identity as a professional," Tran says.

To this point, if Capricorn is in your 10th house in astrology, she says your career is a huge part of your identity. You're very organized, like to assume responsibility, and work well in managerial or administrative roles. You like to be in charge.

Aquarius

"Aquarius is the sign of innovation change in technology," Tran says. "Aquarius needs to be in an environment where they can brainstorm, be rewarded for unorthodox ideas, and play the role of the dreamer or idealist."

You're also fabulous at networking and would likely do well in marketing, public relations, at a start-up, or as a professor.

Pisces

Tran says those with Pisces in the 10th house are well-suited for creative careers or roles that cater to helping others.

"Pisces are really in touch with other people's emotions and the creative spirits, so they're really deep feelers," Tran says. "They are flexible and can fit into almost any environment because they can emotionally intuit the needs of others." Being an artist, psychologist, nurse, or yoga instructor are all good fits.

What each planet means in the 10th house

According to astrologer and tarot read Megan Skinner, co-host of the So Divine! podcast, having a particular planet in your 10th house means that the overall vibe and energy of that planet will be particularly at play in your career. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect career-wise if each of the below planets are in your 10th house.

Sun

Because the sun represents who we are, your career and your conception of yourself are completely intertwined, says Tran.

Moon

The luminary represents inner emotions, and having it in your 10th house signals that you express a lot of your feelings through work, says Tran.

Mercury

This is the planet of thinking and communication, so your job is very cognitive and intellectual, says Tran.

Venus

Venus represents beauty, love, and harmony—so do work that is artistic. Work is also the way that you feel loved and supported, adds Tran.

Mars

This is the planet of action and taking charge. When you're feeling the impulse to move your life forward or to take action, it will generally be via your career. Skinner adds that a Mars placement in the 10th house points to a high level of ambition and drive, which may feed a strong work ethic.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the planet of good fortune and luck, so you feel like you're often lucky when it comes to your career. Jupiter is also the planet of expansion, so you'll always want to grow, learn, and expand your knowledge to aid your career, says Tran.

Saturn

Saturn is the planet of discipline and hard work, and also the planet most associated with the 10th house. You may feel that you have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders, and that's fine with you since you have a strong work ethic and don't mind long hours. Work isn't necessarily a burden, but it definitely feels heavy, adds Tran.

Uranus

This is the planet of innovation and change, says Tran. You can expect your career to be full of positive twists and turns—and you enjoy that unpredictability.

Pluto

Pluto is the planet of transformation, and it represents the more substantive, meaningful parts of life, adds Tran. Your career is the stage upon which you're able to transform who you are over the course of your life.

Frequently Asked Questions about the 10th House in Astrology

What planets are good to have in the 10th house?

The short answer: All of them, because each one can gift you with unique skills and traits to benefit your career. “Given the fact that it's where we really shine professionally, we can really see any planet function really beautifully in the 10th house,” Bedell says, adding that each planet offers something really specific and functional to this placement. While again there are no bad planets to have in the 10th house, there are some that may feel particularly strong. He says the sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus bring good vibes to the 10th house. Skinner adds that having Saturn, the ruler of the 10th house, in this realm means your career and reputation are particularly important to you.

Does an empty 10th house mean no success?

As mentioned earlier, having no planets in your 10th house is really NBD. It doesn’t mean you’re not destined for success, Bedell says.

In these cases, to gain more career insight, he suggests looking at the planetary ruler of the sign that governs the 10th house. For instance, if your 10th house is ruled by Sagittarius, you’d look at that sign’s ruling planet, which is Jupiter, for clarity and instruction around career.

Is the 10th house karmic?

According to Skinner, no. This association probably comes from the idea in Vedic astrology that the Saturn, the planet that rules over the 10th house, has to do with karma and your past life in astrology.

How does the 10th house in astrology affect relationships?

Relationships are the realms of the seventh and 11th houses in astrology; the 10th house isn't typically connected to your social or romantic bonds. However, Skinner says the signs and/or planets in your 10th house could "express themes around work/life balance which in turn could affect relationships." For example, if your 10th house placements point toward having issues with overwork or making work your dominant personality trait, that could certainly impact your time with family and friends if you often sideline them for work.