Are you looking for a low-stress job that still lets you provide well for your family? Perhaps you’re tired of long hours, tight deadlines, or a high stress environment and you’re looking for a better balance between family life and your career. Alternatively, perhaps your teen wants to gain some work experience and start thinking about careers and you are wondering which ones to nudge them toward. Here is a list of low stress, high paying jobs that you may never have considered.
Getting New Job Qualifications For High Paying Jobs
If you are changing your job field, you may have to have some additional schooling. For some of these high paying careers, you’ll need to take a Master’s degree or get a license or other qualification. For others, you may be able to be self-taught.
Don’t be afraid to make a career switch just because you’ll need to take exams. Yes, this will likely involve a bit of stress, but it’s likely to be well worthwhile. Ken from AIS-CPA.com recommends doing plenty of practice exams: “It pays to practice under the same conditions you will experience on test day. This means taking full-length practice exams exactly as you would on the exam day. You should time yourself to create the same pressure you’ll experience on the test.”
7 Of The Best Low Stress Jobs That Pay Well
Here are seven great jobs to consider, ordered with the best-paying first. People often think in terms of high pay but forget how appealing low stress jobs as well. I also want to point out that saying these are some of the least stressful jobs does not mean they are easy jobs or fun jobs necessarily. It just means that you can have a good work-life balance with fewer on the job stressful situations.
High-stress jobs can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Low-stress jobs contribute to better mental well-being. People tend to be more productive and efficient when they are not overwhelmed by stress. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and better job performance. Why not choose a career path with higher job satisfaction?
Note: the average pay and job outlooks for these jobs are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Software Developer
Average pay: $110,140/year
Software developers create computer programs and/or apps for mobile devices. They work for all sorts of different companies that create software, from small startups to large corporations.
Most software developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, though it’s possible to be self-taught. You’ll need proven computer programming skills and experience.
Mathematician
Average pay: $110,860/year
Mathematicians use mathematical techniques to solve problems. They often work for the federal government or in private scientific research or engineering companies. If you love numbers, then this is a fast-growing role to move into.
To become a mathematician, you’ll normally need a master’s degree in mathematics. If you want to use math in a different role, you may want to become a computer programmer, systems analyst, economist, or actuary.
Actuary
Average pay: $111,030/year
Actuaries often work for insurance companies, analyzing risk and helping to minimize costs. Their work involves looking in detail at numbers, finding correlations, and drawing conclusions.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree and you’ll also need to pass exams to get certified. Most actuaries work in an office, but some working as consultants will travel to meet with clients.
Occupational Therapist
Average pay: $86,280/year
Occupational therapists treat patients who have an injury or illness. They help them regain skills or develop new ones, develop new ways of doing things, or even adapt their environment to better suit them.
This can be a very rewarding profession as you’re helping people to be able to take part in their jobs, leisure activities, personal care, and so on. You’ll need to be licensed and you’ll probably also need a Master’s degree in occupational therapy.
Dental Hygienist
Average salary: $77,090/year
Dental hygienists work in dentists’ offices, helping with oral hygiene and providing preventative care. They may also examine patients for signs of oral diseases. Many dental hygienists work part-time, making this a good role if you want more time for family life.
You’ll likely need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene, plus you’ll need to be licensed (licensing requirements vary between different states).
Technical Writer
Average wages: $74,650/year
Technical writers create instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other documents. They work in a range of different industries – particularly computer, management, scientific, and technical industries.
You’ll generally need a college degree for a position as a technical writer, plus some knowledge and/or experience of a technical subject like science or engineering. You may also be expected to create graphics or screenshots, or even video documentation.
Dietician
Average pay: $63,090
Dieticians and nutritionists help people with knowing what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or to achieve a particular health or sports goal. Some work in hospitals (clinical dieticians and clinical nutritionists), others work in the community, and some will work in food service settings like cafeterias, prisons, and schools. With an estimated 32 million in the US suffering from food allergies and millions more struggling with nutrition, a career in Holistic health and nutrition is in demand.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, plus supervised training, to become a dietician or nutritionist. Many states will also require you to be licensed.
10 More Low Stress High Paying Jobs
- Political Scientists
The median annual wage for political scientists was $125,350 in May 2020. Typical entry level position requires Master’s Degree. - Radiation Therapist
The median annual wage for radiation therapists was $86,850 in May 2020. Typical entry level education is an Associate’s degree. - Operations Research Analyst
The median annual wage for operations research analysts was $86,200 in May 2020. Typical entry-level positions require Bachelor’s degree. - Web Developer
The median annual wage for web developers and digital designers was $77,200 in May 2020. Typical entry-level positions require Bachelor’s degree. - Dental Hygienist
The median annual wage for dental hygienists was $77,090 in May 2020. Typical entry level education is an Associate’s degree. - Environmental Science
The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists was $73,230 in May 2020. Typical entry-level positions require Bachelor’s degree. - Library Science
The median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $60,820 in May 2020. Typical entry level position requires Master’s Degree. - Graphic Designer
The median annual wage for graphic designers was $53,380 in May 2020. Typical entry-level positions require Bachelor’s degree. - Massage Therapist
The median annual wage for massage therapists was $43,620 in May 2020. Typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award. - Optician
The median annual wage for opticians was $38,530 in May 2020.Typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Finally, I chose to mention those 10 least stressful jobs because they did not require work experience in a related occupation. I also chose those because the required education ranges from a graduate degree to high school diploma.
Conclusion
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is very informative when searching for low stress entry level jobs. You can even look at resources for employment and wages by state and area. Additionally, it is very interesting to look at the Job Outlook to see the projected to grow in that occupation.
I hope you found this list of best low-stress jobs interesting. A high-paying job is wonderful but not if you are constantly put in high-stress situations that won’t let you achieve a healthy work-life balance. Chronic stress can have negative effects on physical health, including increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune system. Low-stress jobs help in maintaining better physical health.
Could one of these low stress high paying jobs be perfect for your career move? Or might they be a great avenue for your child to shadow or gain experience in as an alternative to a summer job. Choose one to check out – you never know where it might lead. Are there any low stress jobs that pay well that you would add to this list?
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