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33 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress
33 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress
Andy KierszFeb 13, 2023, 19:08 IST
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There are many jobs that are both well-paid and offer a relaxing work environment.
Using data from the Department of Labor, we found 33 jobs with annual salaries over $75,000 that also offer a relatively low-stress work situation.
Intense, high-stress jobs where you might face a lot of pressure aren't right for everyone.
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Fortunately, for those who would like to work under more relaxing conditions, there are plenty of high-paying jobs that also tend to offer low-stress work environments.
The Department of Labor's O*NET Online occupational database includes survey-based measurements of how important various skills, activities, and personal traits are for a particular job. One of the characteristics measured is stress tolerance, which O*NET describes as jobs requiring "accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations."
O*NET scores job characteristics like stress tolerance on a scale from 0 to 100, where a 0 means stress tolerance is not at all necessary for an occupation, and 100 suggests a job with a very high-stress environment.
We ranked occupational groups from most to least stressful using O*NET's stress tolerance score, with lower scores indicating less stressful jobs. Since we are interested in high-paying jobs, we looked at occupations with average annual salaries of at least $75,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics data for May 2017, the most recently available release.
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Several of the jobs fell in academia, with postsecondary teachers in various fields and researchers in economics, statistics, mathematics, and materials science dominating the top of the list.
Here are 33 high-paying low-stress jobs, ranked from most to least stressful, and by average annual wages in the event of a tied stress tolerance score:
What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research or perform investigations for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population.
32. Postsecondary history teachers
Importance of stress tolerance: 69
Average annual salary: $82,900
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in human history and historiography.
31. Postsecondary mathematical science teachers
Importance of stress tolerance: 69
Average annual salary: $84,710
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations.
30. Environmental engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 69
Average annual salary: $91,180
What they do, according to O*NET: Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines.
29. Art directors
Importance of stress tolerance: 69
Average annual salary: $103,510
What they do, according to O*NET: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising.
28. Ship engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 68
Average annual salary: $77,970
What they do, according to O*NET: Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ships.
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations.
23. Biochemists and biophysicists
Importance of stress tolerance: 67
Average annual salary: $105,410
What they do, according to O*NET: Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms.
22. Computer hardware engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 67
Average annual salary: $119,650
What they do, according to O*NET: Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment.
21. Orthodontists
Importance of stress tolerance: 67
Average annual salary: $229,380
What they do, according to O*NET: Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.
20. Postsecondary atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers
Importance of stress tolerance: 66
Average annual salary: $98,560
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics.
19. Postsecondary area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers
Importance of stress tolerance: 65
Average annual salary: $83,330
What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group.
18. Epidemiologists
Importance of stress tolerance: 64
Average annual salary: $76,230
What they do, according to O*NET: Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes.
17. Biomedical engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 63
Average annual salary: $92,970
What they do, according to O*NET: Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological and health systems and products.
16. Geoscientists
Importance of stress tolerance: 63
Average annual salary: $105,830
What they do, according to O*NET: Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth.
What they do, according to O*NET: Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters.
13. Astronomers
Importance of stress tolerance: 62
Average annual salary: $109,560
What they do, according to O*NET: Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
What they do, according to O*NET: Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decision making, policy formulation, or other managerial functions.
10. Materials engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 61
Average annual salary: $98,610
What they do, according to O*NET: Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications.
9. Software applications developers
Importance of stress tolerance: 61
Average annual salary: $106,710
What they do, according to O*NET: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs.
8. Political scientists
Importance of stress tolerance: 61
Average annual salary: $112,030
What they do, according to O*NET: Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
7. Chemical engineers
Importance of stress tolerance: 61
Average annual salary: $112,430
What they do, according to O*NET: Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products.
6. Physicists
Importance of stress tolerance: 61
Average annual salary: $123,080
What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
5. Geographers
Importance of stress tolerance: 59
Average annual salary: $76,790
What they do, according to O*NET: Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena.
4. Statisticians
Importance of stress tolerance: 59
Average annual salary: $88,980
What they do, according to O*NET: Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information.
3. Economists
Importance of stress tolerance: 59
Average annual salary: $112,650
What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy.
2. Mathematicians
Importance of stress tolerance: 57
Average annual salary: $104,700
What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields.
1. Materials scientists
Importance of stress tolerance: 53
Average annual salary: $101,910
What they do, according to O*NET: Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials.