Most people dream of a job they’ll enjoy that has good pay, without being a major source of stress. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Occupational Information Network has ranked many jobs based on stress tolerance level, with low-stress jobs having relatively lower numbers. High pay doesn’t necessarily mean the occupation you’ve chosen needs to include high levels of stress, however. There are some very good high-paying jobs that have low to virtually zero stress levels. With that in mind, here are 10 high-paying jobs which aren’t a major source of stress.
1) Mathematician
Mathematicians have surprisingly high salaries, and do not have to work in a particularly high-stress environment. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics and Occupational Information Network, mathematicians face a stress tolerance ranked at 57.3. Mathematicians may work for the government or for private companies, conducting fundamental and application-based mathematics research. Depending on where you work, you may need to have different levels of education, ranging from a Bachelor’s degree to a doctorate. On average, a professional mathematician will make a salary of $103,310 annually. For people who enjoy working out mathematical problems, or developing mathematical models for a variety of professional fields, a mathematics based career may be worth considering.
2) Librarian
Librarians play a crucial role in the functioning of academic research, as they work with the organization of important intellectual works as well as novels and other branches of literature. Although librarians do not typically earn as much as other careers on this list, librarians have the potential to make a hefty salary depending on where they work and how much they do. That is, while the average salary for librarians is $58,930, certain positions pay as much as $88,530. Since libraries tend to have a calm environment, and librarian work tends to have regularity, it is not a stressful job. Typically, a person will need a library science-specific Master’s degree in order to pursue this career. Additionally, there are so many different types of libraries, so there are many options open to people who are interested in this job choice.
3) Political Scientist
Wherever society exists and people interact with each other, politics will play a role in our lives. As such, people who study and analyze political systems and trends are very important, since they are the ones who can see why certain systems work and others lead to problems. The work of political scientists is grounded in real-life issues, but is not overwhelming, as the job has a stress tolerance rating of 60.8. The average yearly salary of a political scientist is $100,900. As with many other high-paying jobs, there are a variety of positions available, with different educational requirements, although many require at least a Master’s degree. Political scientists usually have an office-based work environment, often within the government. Though there has been a recent slight decline in the number of political science jobs, it is still a field which is viable and alive.
4) Materials Scientist
Since our technology-driven world relies on thorough knowledge of materials in order to manipulate them to our needs, material scientists play an important role. Professional materials science has a stress tolerance of 53.0. Materials scientists may conduct research into the atomic and molecular properties of different materials and how they interact with each other. The level of education that is required for this job may vary depending on where you work, but there are jobs for people with Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctorate degrees. On average, materials scientists make an annual salary of $94,350. Especially if you enjoy working through applications of atomic and molecular science, becoming a materials scientist will have great monetary rewards without taking a toll on your mental well-being.
5) Scientific or Technical Sales Representative
Sales representatives are important in every field, and that includes scientific and technological companies. This job usually includes travelling as you maintain company sales contacts in order to sell products. You can make a large sum of money without much stress, because if you are a social person, you will be able to make your way working the most interaction-heavy aspects of technological distribution. The average salary for this job is $89,170 per year, and the highest salaries are over $150,000 annually. You may also have a fair amount of down time in which you can take care of any projects which could act as potential sources of stress. In order to go into this field of jobs, you will need at least a Bachelor’s degree in a related subject, as you need to have some familiarity with the science behind the company.
6) Physicists
As we continue to deepen our scientific understanding of the universe, physics remains an intriguing field of study. Physicists study the fundamental physical features of the world and in some cases, seek to apply those to developing technologies. Many modern physics problems tend to be theoretical, so if you are interested in a math and theory-heavy job with great pay, physics is a possible career for you. Professional physics as a career has a stress tolerance rating of 61.3, and the average salary is $117,040 per year, although some physicists may make closer to $200,000 per year. The majority of physics research positions require a Ph.D., so you will be making a thorough educational investment if you choose to pursue this career. But if you enjoy this kind of problem solving, you will have a good time unravelling the truths of the universe.
7) Postsecondary Law Teachers
Certain types of people are well-suited for teaching skills to others, and since learning is an essential part of every field, teaching is an important job. In terms of good financial benefits without significant stress, teaching law at a postsecondary level is ideal, especially if you have a deep interest in the legal system. Law teachers make an average salary of $122,280 annually for teaching law classes at various educational institutions, preparing future lawyers for the world of law. This career has a stress tolerance rating of 62.8, so it is slightly more stressful than some of the other jobs on this list, but if you enjoy passing on knowledge, it will be worth it. In order to teach law, you will need a Bachelor’s degree and a law degree. As such, if you are a lawyer who wants to try something different, you may want to look into teaching law.
8) Statisticians
Statistics play a large role in most research-centric fields, as they are necessary to analyze large sets of data relevant to the particular study at hand. Additionally, statistics is a job which can have large payoffs without being a major source of stress. Statisticians have a stress tolerance rating of 64.0. On average, they make over $83,000 per year. Because statistics are so widely applicable, as a statistician you may be working with data from multiple areas of interest to you. If you like working with numbers, this job is a great opportunity for you to use your math skills to help solve real-world problems and concerns. You will most likely need a graduate level education to pursue statistics professionally.
9) Non-Clinical Nurses
There is no doubting that clinical nurse work is a highly stressful job—but acting as a nurse in a non-clinical setting can have you utilizing your skills in a much calmer environment. Some examples of this type of career include research jobs and over-the-phone medical assistance. In this way, you are removed from the medical emergencies while still using your medical knowledge to help others, and the pay can be rather good as well. For instance, the average salary is $71,000, but depending on your specific job, you may earn over $100,000 per year as a non-clinical nurse. This is a great job opportunity for registered nurses who are looking for a break from the rushing work of a clinical medical setting.
10) Optometrist
As far as medical professions go, optometry is certainly not one of the higher stress paths, but is still very important and pays very well. Optometrists are eye doctors who give eye health and vision exams and help diagnose and treat problems. Since most of the problems you will deal with will not be emergencies, you do not have to worry about many severely high-stress situations. While the stress tolerance rating for this job is higher than other low-stress jobs, at 70.3 as it is still within the medical field, it can be rewarding in terms of helping others and making a lot of money. The average salary for optometrists is $111,640 annually, but some can make over $180,000 per year. In order to become an optometrist, you will need a Bachelor’s degree, an appropriate doctor’s degree, and a license to practice in your state.