Are These the Best Low-Stress Jobs?
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Is your job stressing you out? Have you thought you need to look into doing something else for a career before you pull a Jerry Maguire? The American Psychological Association’s 2019 Stress in America survey revealed that 64 percent of Americans say work stresses them out.
But that doesn’t mean Americans don’t like their jobs. Many of the most stressful jobs are also jobs that people are passionate about, like journalism and medicine.
Of course, bad bosses, hostile workplaces, job insecurity and the like can make even the least stressful job extremely stressful. Today’s 24/7 digital workplace also means bosses expect employees to be available at all hours, which can make the workday feel interminable and more stressful. But even without those kinds of negative factors, some jobs are just more stressful than others.
On the other hand, some jobs are inherently less stressful than others. And a less stressful job can contribute to a healthier life and lifestyle.
To help you achieve a less-stressful lifestyle, we’ve tried to nail down just what the best low-stress jobs might be.
How We Developed Our List
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We based our research on Careercast.com’s Best Jobs of 2018 list because of the variety of components it used to evaluate the professions. Instead of just looking at stress, CareerCast used varied criteria, including income, growth outlook, work environment and stress.
As for the direct question of whether or not the position was stressful, the jobs were evaluated using 11 factors: travel, growth potential, physical demands, hazards encountered, environmental conditions, meeting the public, competitiveness, death (own life at risk), life of another at risk, deadlines and working in the public eye.
We also took into account the stress tolerance level, according to the Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, a site developed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The site ranks jobs from one to 100 according to multiple factors, one of which is stress tolerance. The higher the number, the higher the tolerance for stress that the position requires.
Out of the jobs ranked by O*NET, urologists had the highest stress tolerance requirement, while professional models required the least stress tolerance. Interestingly, there were quite a few discrepancies between what O*NET considered a stressful job (or a job that necessitates a high tolerance for stress) and what CareerCast determined was a stressful job. Not all of the positions listed on O*NET include the ranking for stress tolerance.
Here’s our list of 14 low-stress jobs that also offer good salaries and strong potential growth, based on CareerCast’s analysis. Some of these jobs have stress. But overall, here's a solid place to start looking for a good, low-stress career.
Audiologist
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Job growth for audiology is expected to grow by 21 percent between now and 2026.Stress: Very low* (ranked 4 out of 218 professions, according to CareerCast)
Work environment: Good (77/218)
*Very low, low, very good and good designations come from CareerCast.
Audiologist Stats
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Audiologists prevent, diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders.Projected growth: Very good (25/218)
Median salary: $75,980
Bottom Line: Audiologist
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Audiologists can make over $75,000 a year.Audiologists are experts in providing services in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.
Audiologist positions are on the rise, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), job growth for audiology is expected to grow by 21 percent between now and 2026. The demand for audiologists will continue to increase as the population and life expectancy grow.
O*NET ranks audiologist stress tolerance levels at 70 out of 100.
University Professor
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Most professors aren’t putting their lives at risk while on the job, but the job can create stress.Stress: Very low (5/218)
Work environment: Very good (2/218)
University Professor Stats
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Professors often are experts in their field.Projected growth: Good (51/218)
Median salary: $75,430
Bottom Line: University Professor
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A professor can play a key role in student lives.In 2013, there was a so-called "online rebellion" against CareerCast’s rating of college professors as one of the least stressful jobs.
It’s true that most professors aren’t putting their lives at risk while on the job, but deadlines, competitiveness and low pay and lack of tenure (for adjunct professors) can create stress.
Operations Research Analyst
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The field is quickly growing at a rate of 15 percent or higher.Stress: Very low (8/218)
Work environment: Good (47/218)
Operations Research Analyst Stats
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Operations research analysts use mathematical models to enhance decision making.Projected growth: Very good (16/218)
Median salary: $79,200
Bottom Line: Operations Research Analyst
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Operations research analysts are good with data.Operations research analysts collect and analyze data and apply mathematical models to develop and interpret information for enhanced decision making, policy making or other managerial-level work.
The field is quickly growing at a rate of 15 percent or higher, according to O*NET.
Genetic Counselor
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Genetic counseling is a low-stress job, but delivering results to families and individuals that indicate genetic risks can be stressful.Stress: Very low (14/218)
Work environment: Very good (7/218)
Genetic Counselor Stats
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Genetic counselors have a median salary of $74,120.Projected growth: Very good (13/218)
Median salary: $74,120
Bottom Line: Genetics Counselor
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Genetic counselors work with couples young and old.Genetic counseling is a growing field with a projected growth of 15 percent or more between now and 2026. Genetic counselors assess genetic risks for inherited conditions, including genetic disorders and birth defects.
Despite CareerCast’s ranking of genetic counselors as a low-stress job, delivering results to families and individuals that indicate genetic risks can be a stressful and upsetting task.
That is why O*NET ranked genetic counselors a 76 out of 100 for the required stress tolerance.
Dental Hygienist
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Dental hygienists don’t take their work home with them.Stress: Very low (18/218)
Work environment: Good (46/218)
Dental Hygienist Stats
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The field is growing.Projected growth: Very good (28/218)
Median salary: $72,910
Bottom Line: Dental Hygienist
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Dental hygienists are licensed dental professionals.Another hot growth area: dental hygienist work. The field is expected to grow 15 percent or more between now and 2026, according to O*NET.
Dental hygienists don’t take their work home with them, either: a major plus for someone looking for a less stressful job in today’s 24/7 on-call, digital workplace.
Medical Services Manager
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Although CareerCast ranked the position as low stress, stress is an occupational hazard of working in hospitals, generally.Stress: Very low (19/218)
Work environment: Very good (37/218)
Medical Services Manager Stats
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Medical services managers have to present lots of information.Projected growth: Very good (28/218)
Median salary: $96,540
Bottom Line: Medical Services Manager
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The public health industry is growing.Medical services managers plan and coordinate services in medical institutions and hospitals, clinics and public health institutions.
The industry is growing rapidly, with a projected growth between now and 2026 at 15 percent or more.
Although CareerCast ranked the position as low stress (19 out of 218), according to the Centers for Disease Control, stress is an occupational hazard of working in hospitals, generally.
Speech Pathologist
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Speech pathologists assess and treat speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.Stress: Very low (21/218)
Work environment: Very good (40/218)
Speech Pathologist Stats
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A career in speech pathology comes with flexibility.Projected growth: Very good (37/218)
Median salary: $74,680
Bottom Line: Speech Pathologist
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Speech pathologists also are known as speech therapists.Speech pathologists assess and treat speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.
O*NET ranked speech-language pathologists a 78 out of 100 for stress, meaning it requires a relatively high level of stress tolerance.
That’s a contradiction to the ranking by CareerCast, which ranked the stress level at 21 out of 218.
Information Security Analyst
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Information security analysts deal with security measures for computer networks.Stress: Very low (25/218)
Work environment: Good (52/218)
Information Security Analyst Stats
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Information security analysts handle sensitive information.Projected growth: Very good (15/218)
Median salary: $92,600
Bottom Line: Information Security Analyst
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Information security analysts can make over $90,000 a year.Information security analysts deal with security measures for computer networks and information.
Security analysts are often dealing with sensitive information, which can obviously be a stress factor.
This is most likely why O*NET ranked the stress tolerance level of information security analysts at 73 out of 100.
Software Developer
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The profession is expected to grow between 10 to 14 percent between now and 2026.Stress: Very low (26/218)
Work environment: Good (71/218)
Software Developer Stats
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Software developers can make over $100,000 a year.Projected growth: Very good (19/218)
Median salary: $102,280
Bottom Line: Software Developer
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Software developers are the brains behind computer programs.Software developers design and develop computer software for individuals and companies, which can include tight deadlines and high expectations.
The profession is expected to grow between 10 to 14 percent between now and 2026.
Mathematician
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Demand is growing for mathematicians.Stress: Very low (31/218)
Work environment: Very good (40/218)
Mathematician Stats
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Mathematicians can work in lots of different fields.Projected growth: Very good (8/218)
Median salary: $81,950
Bottom Line: Mathematician
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Math is relevant to many industries.Although many mathematicians work in academia, there are many other areas where the work is relevant, including and astronomy, medicine and robotics.
The job outlook for mathematicians is great: O*NET predicts that there will be 15 percent or more growth between now and 2026.
Occupational Therapist
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If an occupational therapist works in a hospital, the job is likely to be more stressful.Stress: Very low (33/218)
Work environment: Very good (7/218)
Occupational Therapist Stats
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Occupational therapists promote independence.Projected growth: Very good (19/218)
Median salary: $81,910
Bottom Line: Occupational Therapist
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Occupational therapists can work with seniors.Occupational therapists develop and implement rehabilitative programs for vocational and daily living skills for persons with disabilities or developmental delays.
Similar to medical services managers, if an occupational therapist works in a hospital, then the job is likely to be more stressful.
Data Scientist
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Information technology data scientists are responsible for mining complex data and providing systems-related advice for their organization.Stress: Very low (41/218)
Work environment: Very good (32/218)
Data Scientist Stats
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Data science uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge from data.Projected growth: Very good (33/218)
Median salary: $111,840
Bottom Line: Data Scientist
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Data scientists can make over $90,000 a year.Information technology data scientists are responsible for mining complex data and providing systems-related advice for their organization.
According to CIO.com, data scientists are one of the more stressful jobs in the tech industry, but the salary can make up for some of that stress.
On average, they make about $91,476, annually.
Statistician
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The field is rapidly growing at 15 percent or more projected growth between 2016 and 2026.Stress: Very low (42/218)
Work environment: Very good (10/218)
Statistician Stats
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Statisticians work in the private and public sectors.Projected growth: Very good (8/218)
Median salary: $84,060
Bottom Line: Statistician
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Statisticians work with theoretical or applied statistics.Statisticians develop and apply mathematical and statistical theories and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize data for companies and organizations.
The field is rapidly growing at 15 percent or more projected growth between 2016 and 2026, according to O*NET.
Actuary
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Actuaries analyze statistical data to develop probability tables and predict risk.Stress: Low (76/218)
Work environment: Very good (9/218)
Actuary Stats
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The profession is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable.Projected growth: Very good (24/218)
Median salary: $100,610
Bottom Line: Actuary
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Actuaries can help clients generate more income.Actuaries analyze statistical data, including risk of mortality, accident, sickness and disability, to develop probability tables to predict risk and, thus, liability for payment of benefits in the future.
It can be a depressing job: determining whether people are dying within the expected timetable. But according to some actuaries, it also helps their clients generate more income, which is a good thing.