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14 High-Paying Jobs for People Who Don't Like Stress

A higher salary doesn't have to mean more stress. Here are 14 high-paying jobs that allow you to ditch the stress, without sacrificing money.

Woman relaxing and enjoying her job
Updated Aug. 7, 2024
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Think there's no such thing as a high-paying, low-stress job? Think again.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are plenty of low-stress professions in which you can pull in a pretty penny. We compared average salaries and stress levels of hundreds of occupations to identify the best jobs with that perfect combination of high pay and low stress.

The stress tolerance for each job is a rating on a scale from zero to 100, where a lower rating signals less stress. It measures how frequently workers must accept criticism and deal effectively with high stress on the job. The data was gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

If you're looking for ways to make extra money and lower your financial stress, you're going to want to check these out.

Astronomers

PRASERT/Adobe Astronomer stargazing

Stress tolerance: 71

Average annual salary: $126,250

What they do: Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree, but most astronomers go on to get a master's and Ph.D.

Mathematicians

Monkey Business/Adobe Mathematician working out a problem

Stress tolerance: 56

Average annual salary: $112,530

What they do: Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in the application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

Education requirements: Bachelor's or master's degree for those who want to work in government, and a doctorate may be required to work for private companies.

Orthodontists

Drazen/Adobe Orthodontist checking child's teeth

Stress tolerance: 67

Average annual salary: $ 237,990+

What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree, four-year dental school, and one to two years of residency training.

Computer Hardware Engineers

snowing12/Adobe Computer engineer working

Stress tolerance: 66

Average annual salary: $126,140

What they do: Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited program.

Food Scientists

pressmaster/Adobe Food scientist checking plants

Stress tolerance: 62

Average annual salary: $80,190

What they do: Ensure that agricultural establishments are productive and food is safe.

Education requirements: At least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary institution; many get a doctoral degree.

Actuaries

JD8/Adobe actuary working

Stress tolerance: 70

Average annual salary: $123,180

What they do: Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree and a series of exams to become certified.

Law Teachers

Dog Paw Productions/Adobe Law professor standing by library shelves

Stress tolerance: 78

Average annual salary: $134,760

What they do: Teach courses in law.

Education requirements: Bachelor's and law degrees.

Art Directors

Drobot Dean/Adobe Art teacher instructing student

Stress tolerance: 69

Average annual salary: $114,490

What they do: Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree or previous work experience.

Statisticians

EKKAPON/Adobe Person looking at graphs on computer

Stress tolerance: 64

Average annual salary: $97,170

What they do: Use statistical methods to collect and analyze data and help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.

Education requirements: Typically need a graduate degree.

Applications Software Developers

BalanceFormCreative/Adobe Woman working on computers

Stress tolerance: 65

Average annual salary: $114,270

What they do: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree and strong computer programming skills.

Political Scientists

pressmaster/Adobe Politicians working

Stress tolerance: 61

Average annual salary: $124,100

What they do: Political scientists study the origin, development, and analyze the structure and operation of political systems and trends.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree, followed by master's or Ph.D in political science, public administration, or a related field.

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Igor Kardasov/Adobe Marine engineer working

Stress tolerance: 71

Average annual salary: $99,590

What they do: Design, build, and maintain ships, including aircraft carriers, submarines, sailboats, and tankers. Marine engineers work on mechanical systems, such as propulsion and steering. Naval architects work on the basic design, including the form and stability of hulls.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree (practical experience is also highly valued).

Economists

pressmaster/Adobe Economist looking at graphs

Stress tolerance: 64

Average annual salary: $120,880

What they do: Economists study the production and distribution of resources, goods, and services.

Education requirements: Bachelor's degree.

Optometrists

Andrey Popov/Adobe Eye doctor giving exam

Stress tolerance: 78

Average annual salary: $125,440

What they do: Optometrists perform eye exams to check for vision problems and diseases. They prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses as needed.

Education requirements: Bachelor's, four-year doctor of optometry program, and a state license.

Bottom line

Syda Productions/Adobe stressed senior woman filling tax form at home

Stress is something expected with any job, especially high-paying ones. Luckily, some careers won't be as brutal. There's already enough stress in dealing with day-to-day finances. While you may be reconsidering your career path, you should also consider looking into ways to help eliminate some of the money stress in your life.

Stress tolerance is measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Occupational Information Network, with lower scores indicating less stress on the job.


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