Yahoo Finance 22 lower stress jobs that pay more than £50,000 a year
While many of us aim to thrive in our careers, we want to be able to do that without being stressed and overworked, with time and headspace to enjoy a happy work/life balance. It's not the easiest balance to strike, but if earning big bucks without lots of worry is your aim (and we think we can all agree, that sounds pretty great) there are jobs out there that pay well without the stress. If you're looking to make a work move, these could well be the best careers to retrain for.
According to this list put together by Business Insider, fun jobs that pay well really do exist. The publication utilised the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a database put together by the US Department of Labor, to discover jobs that aren't particularly anxiety-inducing, but pay very well.
The O*NET database rates the "stress tolerance" for various professions (100 being a job with a maximum stress level), with the following jobs having a 70 or lower rating while paying an average salary of £55,000 or higher.
Count us in.
Side note: this was based on American statistics, so while the results may be comparable in the UK, they may not translate in exactly the same way in terms of exact stress levels.
Optometrists
Stress tolerance: 70/100
Average annual salary: £86,900
Education requirements: BSc (Hons) plus a work placement
Environmental Scientists and Specialists
Stress tolerance: 69/100
Average annual salary: £55,000
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
Financial Examiners
Stress tolerance: 69/100
Average annual salary: £65,200
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree
Art Directors
Stress tolerance: 69/100
Average annual salary: £77,400
Education requirements: A-Levels, Degree, Vocational Qualifications such as BTEC
Ship Engineers
Stress tolerance: 68/100
Average annual salary: £56,200
Education requirements: Degree in a relevant field
Postsecondary mathematical science teachers
Stress tolerance: 68/100
Average annual salary: £61,000
Education requirements: Typically a Ph.D in a relevant field
Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion teachers
Stress tolerance: 68/100
Average annual salary: £62,900
Education requirements: A Doctoral degree will likely be required but a Master's degree may be enough
Geoscientists
Stress tolerance: 68/100
Average annual salary: £76,600
Education requirements: Master's degree in a relevant field plus work experience is desirable
Agents and business managers
Stress tolerance: 67/100
Average annual salary: £68,700
Education requirements: Typically a Master's degree plus work experience to build contacts
Agricultural engineers
Stress tolerance: 67/100
Average annual salary: £69,4oo
Education requirements: A degree in an engineering subject, typically, although you may be able to work your way up from technician level
Computer hardware engineers
Stress tolerance: 67/100
Average annual salary: £87,000
Education requirements: A degree in computer or electronic engineering
Orthodontists
Stress tolerance: 67/100
Average annual salary: £163,000
Education requirements: Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree
Epidemiologists
Stress tolerance: 64/100
Average annual salary: £55,400
Education requirements: A Master's or PhD degree
Economists
Stress tolerance: 64/100
Average annual salary: £82,600
Education requirements: A relevant Bachelor's degree
Biomedical Engineers
Stress tolerance: 63/100
Average annual salary: £68,700
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject, plus a Master's degree can be beneficial
Hydrologist
Stress tolerance: 62/100
Average annual salary: £61,100
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree, plus a Master's degree may be required for more senior positions
Physicists
Stress tolerance: 62/100
Average annual salary: £92,800
Education requirements: A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, but a Master's or PhD is preferable
Software Applications Developers
Stress tolerance: 61/100
Average annual salary: £79,000
Education requirements: Master's degree in a relevant field
Political Scientists
Stress tolerance: 61/100
Average annual salary: £85,100
Education requirements: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, or work experience
Farm and ranch managers
Stress tolerance: 59/100
Average annual salary: £56,800
Education requirements: While not essential, most farm managers have a qualification in agriculture or land management
Geographers
Stress tolerance: 59/100
Average annual salary: £59,000
Education requirements: At least a Master's degree
Mathematicians
Stress tolerance: 57/100
Average annual salary: £76,000
Education requirements: At least a Master's degree, but ideally a doctorate degree
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