Whilst all jobs have their own levels of stress, a recent study by job search website CareerCast has indicated that there are particular jobs which rank as having higher level of stress than other jobs.
The ranking system used by CareerCast was dependent on various factors. These included evident factors such as risks to personal safety or risk to others. In these categories, professions such as airline pilot, military general and police officer made the list. Other measurable stress factors included the amount of travel, deadlines, working in the public eye and meeting the public. These factors accounted for professionals such as Events Coordinators, Public Relations Executives and Newspaper Reporters.
Indeed, a career was rated higher on the stress counter if the job contained a combination of these factors. For example, Firefighters, who ranked third overall, involve most of these stress factors in their job descriptions. Whilst an Event Coordinator ranked lower because there was not an immediate danger to personal injury.
Top Ten Most Stressful Jobs according to CareerCast:
- Enlisted Military Personnel
- Military General
- Firefighter
- Airline Pilot
- Event Coordinator
- Public Relations Executive
- Corporate Executive (Senior)
- Newspaper Reporter
- Police Officer
- Taxi Driver
According to the data, working hours also play a significant role in the level of stress associated with a position. A recent Australian study showed a direct relationship between longer working hours and levels of stress. The study claims that longer working hours inevitably begin to create time conflicts that interfere with ones quality of life outside of work as well as on-the-job performance.
Interestingly, the amount of stress does not collate with the salary that is awarded for these careers. Enlisted Military Personnel topped the list as the most stressful job, which according to Defence Jobs after initial training as a soldier in the army, has a starting salary of only $38,422 per year.
Comparatively, a Senior Corporate Executive can earn in excess of $170,000 per year and only ranked seventh in the findings. Indeed, depending on the field, Corporate Executives can receive one of the highest paid salaries in Australia and salary guides, such as the Robert Half 2014 Salary Guides, show that these positions can climb to as high as $300,000+ in the financial sector.
On the flipside, the same study explored the least stressful jobs. These included hairdressers, librarians and Audiologist, which sat at number one. With many of the least stressful jobs requiring tertiary education, it appears that careers with the least level of stress require the most academic work to secure them.
Top Ten Least Stressful Jobs:
- Audiologist
- Hair Stylist
- Jeweller
- University Professor
- Seamstress/Tailor
- Dietician
- Medical Records Technician
- Librarian
- Multimedia Artist
- Drill-Press Operator
Stress is almost always a part of any job, but ensuring you have the right balance is important in maintaining job satisfaction
