- A 2016 study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed that 44 percent of adults said their current job affected their overall health — and only 28 percent expressed that effect as a good one.
- Jobs that pay between $60,000 and $90,000 and evoke minimal stress include dietician, audiologist, technical writer, hydrologist and geographer.
- With competitive salaries above $100,000, enjoyable careers include mathematician, astronomer, orthodontist, physicist and political scientist
Not everybody can thrive under pressure, but often times high-stress careers reap the biggest rewards. Luckily, this doesn’t always have to be true and that may be better for you and the organization for which you work. A 2016 study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as talked about in the Harvard Gazette, revealed that 44 percent of working adults mentioned that their current job affected their overall health. Only 28 percent of working adults felt that the effect was a good one.
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It’s time to break out of the daily bustle, as there are many fun and high-paying jobs which don’t have the tension that comes with a stressful role. That may turn out to be better for you in more ways than one.
Here are the 25 fun and low-stress career paths you can to consider.
- Audiologist
To become an audiologist, you’d have to study for a doctorate and obtain the necessary license to practice. But after you do, you’re in for a career that’s challenging yet rewarding without any unnecessary stress. Audiologists diagnose patients problem relating to hearing and fit them with hearing aids when necessary. They sometimes also help conduct research in the field.
Average Annual Salary: $77,420 - Art Director
Not everyone has the eye for art, but if you do, you’re in luck. An art director’s role doesn’t take place in a museum, but backstage in creative industries such as advertising, magazine publishing and TV production. They ensure everything looks attractive to the eye and sometimes they earn a six-figure salary for it. You either need a bachelor’s degree or an impeccable taste.
Average Annual Salary: $101,990 - Dental Hygienist
If you’ve ever been to a dentist, you’d know what a hygienist’s job involves. They always clean your teeth and carry out the first round of examinations to see if you’re suffering from any disease orally. You’d need an associate degree to take on this role.
Average Annual Salary: $72,720 - Geologist
A geologist does a lot more than look at rocks all day long. They examine and predict the movement of the earth, studying the effects which includes earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions and floods included. The time spent in the field exploring proves that this is a fun job that pays well.
Average Annual Salary: $106,900 - Food Technologist
For a food technologists, it’s all about flavors. They specialize in researching and analyzing everything edible and figuring out ways to make them taste better and last longer in storage. They’re also responsible for making sure that products pass the sanitation standard set by the government while maintaining their nutritional content. All these requirements might seem grueling, but food technologists work within a calm, enjoyable lab setting, making it a demanding but relaxed role.
Average Annual Salary: $75,750 - Librarian
Libraries are usually quiet places for people to read, study and research. That means that librarians work in an environment that’s relaxing and calm. The responsibilities of a librarian are relaxing, from cataloging books, checking them in and out and occasionally to helping readers find a particular title are enjoyable tasks.
Plus, you don’t need to work in a high traffic school or a public library.
Museums, healthcare facilities, businesses and government offices also have libraries that need someone in charge.
Average Annual Salary: $59,870 - Technical Writer
All the stress accompanies being a writer which includes coming up with original, entertaining ideas is inexistent in the career path of technical writing. Instead, technical writers are responsible for writing instruction manual or another corresponding piece of literature for products. They’re charged with writing about how it works in the simplest of terms. You may need some proficiency in the field depending on the complexity of the product or service you’re describing.
Average Annual Salary: $75,682 - Biostatistician
If crunching numbers are for you, There’d be nothing more stress free than this. It’s up to a biostatistician to use figures derived from research to analyze and better comprehend the results of biological research or other natural processes.
Average Annual Salary: $115,900 - Optometrist
To become an optometrist, you’ll have to study and earn a state-level licensure, but the result is well worth it. Optometrists are responsible for diagnosing and treating of all issues relating to the eye, and those in this field experience little stress in doing so. The medical field might look like it’s inherently stressful, but once you’ve passed your intensive eye-related training, you’ll feel confident and calm in your practice.
Average Annual Salary: $117,580 - Radiologic Technologist
Working as a radiologic technologist is similarly a relatively low-stress field in the sector of healthcare. You only require an associate’s degree and an ability to comfort and chat with patients as they undergo X-rays or CAT scans.
Average Annual Salary: $59,260 - Actuary
Becoming an actuary takes a little time, as you’d require a bachelor’s degree and have to pass strings of exams to earn the title. But once you earn it, you’ll be earning handsomely while using the knowledge gained to create insurance plans that are well-maintained.
Average Annual Salary: $105,100 - Dietician
There’s so much fulfillment that comes with being a dietician because you get to help people stay healthier and attain their goals along the way. Dieticians are responsible for changing and arranging peoples diets to enable them shed excess weight or help them create a meal plan that won’t escalate a pre-existing health problem such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
Average Annual Salary: $60,115 - Software Developer
This is one job you’ll enjoy if you work best alone. The computer programmer’s position is certainly demanding, as they tackle issues and coding problems with their expertise.
Here’s the bright side, because the job is so rigorous, associates realize how hard your job is and respect you for your output, leading to less constant pressure to speed up and perform at higher than your capacity.
Average Annual Salary: $110,348 - Postsecondary Teacher
Although it’s dependent on the subject you teach, you can make more money than the figure quoted below. Most postsecondary teachers have low-stress levels as they convey wisdom onto college-level students, irrespective of the subject they teach.
Average Annual Salary: $79,730+ - Hydrologist
Much like a geologist, hydrologists spends a lot of time in the field to carry out their job functions. But rather than studying the movement and makeup of rocks, they’re studying the way water moves across the Earth. This knowledge aids in solving major issues in areas where water quality or water levels are low.
Average Annual Salary: $83,440
Other notable mentions are:
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
| Operations Research Analyst | $84,180 |
| Materials Engineer | $94,690 |
| Geographer | $74,920 |
| Mathematician | $112,560 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $114,970 |
| Orthodontist | $221,390 |
| Astronomer | $110,220 |
| Physicist | $118,500 |
| Political Scientist | $103,210 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $91,230 |
Chart your course
Surprisingly, the above-mentioned careers are not the only low-stress high-paying jobs available out there. As you still might stumble on a path for you outside of these positions. Nevertheless, once you find a job that financially rewards you handsomely and makes you feel good, go for it. That’s exactly where you’re meant to be.
