The 10th House in Astrology Rules Career, Ambitions, and the Legacy You Want to Leave

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' 10th house in astrology, including your manager's, can help you better understand the same for them.)

What is the 10th house 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.

“It's often about how your family, upbringing, and the ways in which you were raised may instruct how you show up professionally.”—Collin Bedell, astrologer

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.

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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, known as the midheaven, 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.

What are the benefits of the 10th house?

Aside from knowing what kind of career would highlight your strengths, interests, and work ethic, the benefits of the 10th house don’t stop there. Remember, this is the most public part of your chart, meaning it’s also home to your external desires and the legacy you want to leave behind. “The 10th House is a very important place in the chart that reflects how we are perceived or how we wish to be perceived in the world at large,” explains astrologer Angel Dawn.

Plus, knowing the details of the 10th house, per astrologer and co-founder of business astrology calendar, Bizmos, Ryan Marquardt, “can be used to signify your aspirations, ambitions, and the mark you want to leave on the world.” If you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current career or unsure of what kind of work you want to be remembered for, refer to the 10th house.

“(The 10th house) can be used to signify your aspirations, ambitions, and the mark you want to leave on the world.”—Ryan Marquardt, astrologer

When you know the traits and motivations of the zodiac sign(s) located in the 10th house, you can better play to its strengths. According to Dawn, powerful placements in the 10th house include Capricorn and its ruling planet, Saturn. Capricorn is associated with this house, meaning it thrives here, and discerns that you feel strongly about leaving a strong impression publicly and professionally. Plus, Saturn denotes responsibility, discipline, and longevity, so if this planet is stationed in the 10th house, it can predict you have a strong work ethic and are devoted to your work.

What are the 12 houses in astrology?

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

What do the planets mean in the 10th house?

When you dive into the details of your birth chart, you may notice that you don’t just have a zodiac sign ruling it, but that there are planets that are influencing your professional area. By understanding the kind of planetary energies that are present, you can discern attitudes and tendencies that can help you better know the challenges and strengths at play.

Note that not everyone will have planets in the 10th house. But empty houses don’t mean that your career is doomed or that you won’t shine in this area, it just means that no specific energies are impacting it.

Find out what it means when each planet is stationed in the 10th house, outlined below.

Sun (the planet of ego):

Because the sun represents who we are, your career and your conception of yourself are completely intertwined, says Tran. The sun in the 10th house might mean you’re well-known in your field.

Moon (the planet of emotions)

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. You might be emotionally attached to your job or have a deep need to feel nurtured by the work you do.

Mercury (the planet of communication) 

This is the planet of thinking and communication, so your job is very cognitive and intellectual, says Tran. You may be extra curious about multiple disciplines and want to try your hand at different skills and professions.

Venus (the planet of romance and beauty)

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. You may have a creative eye that allows you to appeal to consumers or that you have a way of mediating office conflicts.

Mars (the planet of aggression)

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 (the planet of abundance)

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. You might have a fortunate streak at work, like having a habit of landing every job you apply for or landing promotions effortlessly.

Saturn (the planet of responsibility)

Saturn is the planet of discipline and hard work, and also the planet most associated with the 10th house. You may feel pressure at work, 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 (the planet of radical change)

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. You might have an influx of different careers during your life or don’t stay in one field for long.

Neptune (planet of imagination)

As the planet of dreams and delusions, Neptune located in the 10th house discerns a level of inspiration and idealism in the workforce, explains Marquardt. This might mean you have big dreams that can be unrealistic—like the desire to become a pop star or an astrophysicist—without giving the right amount of effort and tenacity toward them.

Pluto (planet of transformation) 

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.

How to find your 10th house

You’ll need to know your birthdate, time, and birthplace in order to calculate your 10th house. You can plug in this information in an online generator like this one. The 10th house is the highest point in your chart, so it’s literally located at the top, or 12 o’clock on your chart. Knowing the zodiac sign stationed in the 10th house is important to understanding the strengths that’ll thrive in the public eye—but also consider the planetary energies and alignments that live here, too.

Below, discover the best careers for you based on the zodiac sign(s) stationed in your 10th house.

What each sign in the 10th house reveals about you

Aries in the 10th house

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.'" To satisfy their competitive nature, Dawn says that being an athlete or personal trainer can be a great career for those with this placement, too.

Taurus in the 10th house

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. "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.'"

Because they’re certified homebodies, Dawn says Taurus in the 10th house would thrive as an online merchant. On the other hand, as they’re associated with finances, so they’d also fare well with working in financial services, adds Dawn.

Gemini in the 10th house

If you have your 10th house in chatty 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," Tran says.

Plus, Dawn says a career in journalism or media broadcasting would be great options, too. Gemini loves to gab, but they’re also knowledgable, so they thrive in environments where they can deliver up-to-date information to the masses.

Cancer in the 10th house

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. "Cancer is the sign of the nurturer," also representing home life and domesticity, Tran says. Because of that, those with this placement likely thrive in fields of nursing, childcare, psychology, or as a stay-at-home parent.

Adding to the domestic values of Cancer, Dawn explains a career as a relator, family counselor, or even in the food industry would be compatible matches for this placement.

Leo in the 10th house

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."

In that way, Dawn includes being an influencer or entertainer of sorts would be a great path for the creative and fun-loving sign.

Virgo in the 10th house

If Virgo is in the 10th house, you likely 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. "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."

Because Virgo is associated with wellness, Dawn adds that a doctor or a health and wellness guide would also work for Virgo in the 10th house.

Libra in the 10th house

Libra is represented by the scales of justice and gravitates to roles that involve fairness and harmony—like a lawyer. "Those who don't feel drawn to the law might be in the arts because they care about beauty and harmony," Tran says. When Libra is in the 10th house, Dawn explains that being an artist or model would also be viable careers for the aesthetic sign.

Scorpio in the 10th house

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.

Because Scorpio is attuned to all things taboo and joint finances, Dawn adds that a tax advisor and a financial planner would also help this placement thrive professionally.

Sagittarius in the 10th house

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

An attorney or publisher, explains Dawn, would also be a viable career for Sagittarius in the 10th house, who is dogmatic and presents experience in their studies and travels.

Capricorn in the 10th house

Capricorn, enterprising and dedicated, is associated with the 10th house. 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. "Capricorn is the business person who puts on their suit and really enjoys their identity as a professional," Tran says.

Adding to this point, Dawn suggests a profession as a judge, architect, or headhunter. These lines of work would be a great way for this placement to exercise their devotion and focus on their work, which they tend to put before anything else.

Aquarius in the 10th house

Being the sign of innovation and change in technology, explains Tran, "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.

Of the same coin, Dawn says people with Aquarius in the 10th house would make for great engineers, scientists, and working in tech.

Pisces in the 10th house

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 may be a good fit, too.

Pandering to Pisces’ creativity, Dawn also adds that a filmmaker or photographer could also work for those with this placement. Pisces loves to wax poetic, so however they can abstractly express themselves will be key for those who have this placement to thrive.