Don't make the mistake of thinking that all high-paying jobs come with crushing stress. You can pursue low-stress jobs that offer great salaries.
If you're giving yourself hives thinking you have to choose between a
high-paying, stress-filled job and a low-paying, stress-free job,
relax. It is actually possible to find a job with a good salary that
isn't going to make you pull your hair out. So how can you identify
these kinds of lower-stress jobs?
"I'd definitely recommend looking at not only specific jobs, but also
the perks and benefits associated with those jobs, as a way to reduce
stress," suggests Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs, a site
for telecommuting and flexible work. "In addition to a great salary,
does the job offer the chance to telecommute or work a flexible
schedule? Options like that can help you stress less about commuting to
work, finding time for your family, or trying to find better work-life
balance."
Imagine a work week without that freeway commute, or one in which you
have control over where and when you put in your 40 hours. Maybe you
want to be your own boss, or maybe you just want a job where you'll be
left alone to think and do your work in peace.
Yes, every job is going to have its stressful moments. But no matter
what stresses you out, there are some great high-paying jobs that might
offer the kind of environment you're seeking. Keep reading to find out
about some high-pay jobs which might offer the low-stress environment
you're hoping for.
Career #1 - Multimedia Artist
- Median
Annual Salary* - $64,470
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$118,890
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$35,010
Are you most at home with a physical or digital canvas and the tools
to turn your creative vision into real world images? Multimedia artists
and animators design visual effects and animation for movies, video
games, television, and other media, according to the U.S. Department of
Labor.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: Would you love to have the freedom to do your thing without being micromanaged? According to the Department of Labor, in 2012, about 57 percent of multimedia artists were self-employed. If you equate lack of supervision with less stress, this job may be for you.
"For the independent contractors, nobody can tell them how to do something, where to do it, or what hours to work," explains Patrick Nohrden, former communications consultant for Phoenix Consulting International, an international firm providing executive search services. And, as Nohrden says, "It pays well because there is a high demand for qualified multimedia artists and so few who do it well."
Video game design in particular has a high demand for talented artists who also have a knack for technology, according to Nohrden. Given the high skill level needed for both art and technology, he adds, it's no wonder the demand still exceeds the supply of highly qualified multimedia artists.
How to Get Started: Ready to take your love of motion graphics and turn it into a career? To get started down this path, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, fine art, animation, or a related field, says the Department. You'll also need a great portfolio of work, and strong technical skills to stand out from the competition, the Department adds.
Career #2 - Technical Writer
- Median
Annual Salary* - $67,900
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$105,760
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$40,270
Have you always had a way with words? It takes a special talent to
explain complicated things in an easy-to-understand manner, but it's
something technical writers do on a daily basis, preparing instruction
manuals, journal articles, or other technical documents, according to
the U.S. Department of Labor. Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: And if you enjoy working alone with plenty of time to think, this could be the low-stress position you've been looking for.
"Technical writing is a great choice for a low-stress, high-pay job for a number of reasons," explains Sutton Fell. "It pays well because it requires specific knowledge or experience in a certain area. But it's low-stress because, rather than other writing jobs where you might be required to pitch topics, generate brand new ideas, and be very creative, technical writing topics are usually assigned to you, so you'll need to cover specific, research-heavy topics that don't require too much creativity, and have very clearly-defined requirements."
"In addition, technical writing jobs offer the opportunity to work from home, be your own boss as a freelancer, and set your own schedule," Sutton Fell adds.
How to Get Started: Does this sound like the perfect fit for you? You'll usually need a college degree in journalism, English, or communications, according to the Department of Labor. You might also need some experience with a technical subject like computer science, web design, or engineering - depending on the field you'll be covering, the Department adds.
Career #3 - Sales Engineer
- Median
Annual Salary* - $93,900
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$154,630
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$55,870
Do you love reading "Wired" or "Popular Science" and sharing the cool
technical or scientific details with your friends? A career as a sales
engineer could be a great fit for a tech-savvy people-person like you.
The U.S. Department of Labor says these workers need to be able to
understand complex technological products and sell them to businesses.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: If you have trouble sitting still, and spending your work day under the florescent lights of an office stresses you out, this job may have what you need. According to the Department of Labor, sales engineers travel extensively, and many can determine their own schedules.
"Additionally, the rewards can be quite high," as Nohrden says. "Sales engineers use their specialized knowledge in a particular technical field to further penetrate the market. If a person has a passion for certain technology, that passion can lead to high income. It pays well because so few people can do the same thing and because it takes specific knowledge of specialized technology to perform well."
How to Get Started: Ready to combine your passion for technology and science with your social personality? You'll typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field to prepare to pursue this career, the Department says. You'll also need both your technical knowledge and strong interpersonal skills to flourish in this field.
Career #4 - Actuary
- Median
Annual Salary* - $94,340
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$176,190
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$57,430
Do you love getting lost in baseball stats, or enjoy relaxing by
solving math problems when you've got some time to kill? A career as an
actuary could give you time alone to think. Using mathematics and
statistics to estimate the likelihood of things like natural disasters
or accidents, is what actuaries do, according to the U.S. Department of
Labor.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: "This job appeals to people who enjoy working with concrete details in order to predict outcomes," says Nohrden. "The fact that it is not a deadline-oriented occupation lowers the stress, which can appeal to people who like to work at their own pace."
And, he adds, this job pays well, too. "Few people pursue a career as an actuary, reducing their numbers, so the industry has a limited supply, making employers pay more for them," Nohrden explains.
How to Get Started: Ready to take your love of math to the next level? You'll need a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, or another analytical field to get started, the Department of Labor says. It's a good idea to take some courses in calculus and business, like accounting and management, the Department explains, adding that many employers will want you to have passed at least one actuary exam needed for professional certification before you graduate.
Career #5 - Dental Hygienist
- Median
Annual Salary* - $71,110
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$96,690
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$47,880
Are you a detail-oriented person who prefers interacting with people
one-on-one without a lot of outside distraction? In a career as a dental
hygienist, you might spend most of your day working with individuals to
provide preventative dental care and educate people about maintaining
good oral health, says the U.S. Department of Labor.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: Unlike the dentist, who might inspire fear among patients, being a dental hygienist is all upside, according to Nohrden.
"Their functions are purely preventative in nature, which allows them to take delight in knowing that they kept something bad from happening rather than reacting to something that has already happened. Also, their 'customers' rarely complain about the service provided and happily return again and again." So why does this career pay so well? "The number of dental hygienists is limited because they require special education and state licensing; therefore, their value increases and employers must pay more for them," says Nohrden.
How to Get Started: Ready to take the dental hygienist plunge? Put down your floss and head back to school. You'll typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene to get started, the Department of Labor reports. You'll also need to get licensed, though requirements are different in different states.
Career #6 - Computer Programmer
- Median
Annual Salary* - $76,140
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - >$123,490
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$43,640
You want to build things, but you want to build them out of 1s and 0s
instead of wood or bricks - that's right, you love computer
programming. This is another career that could give you plenty of time
to sit and work in peace, using programming language to bring new
software to life. Creating software programs by writing code is what
these workers do, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. You might
even be able to find a position that lets you do what you love on your
own schedule or from home, as the Department of Labor also tells us that
many programmers are telecommuters.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: As Sutton Fell explains, "the jobs can be low-stress because they offer a lot of flexibility in terms of when, where, and how you work. Working from home and working a flexible schedule are common with programmer jobs."
And they pay well, Sutton Fell adds, because not everyone can program. "You need to have a specific degree and a certain amount of experience to succeed in this career field," she explains.
How to Get Started: If you're ready to stop tinkering around and get serious about your future, you'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field to pursue this career, the Department says, adding that some employers do hire workers with an associate's degree.
Career #7 - Personal Financial Advisor
- Median
Annual Salary* - $75,320
- Top 10%
Annual Salaries* - ≥$187,199
- Bottom 10%
Annual Salaries* - <$33,190
Do you hate crowds? This career could give you the chance to work in
an office setting, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And if you
like to help others, you may find this position very satisfying. Using
your financial know-how to help others plan for things like retirement
or putting their kids through college are some of the duties of this
position, according to the Department of Labor.Low Stress, High-Pay Factors: According to the Department, "the work of personal financial advisors tends to be less stressful than other financial occupations." About one in five personal financial advisors were self-employed in 2012, according to the Department of Labor, meaning they didn't have the added stress of having to answer to a supervisor. Their jobs can also include travel to conferences for a nice change of pace.
"It typically pays well because financial advisors work on commissions, and they often deal with large investment activities," says Nohrden, who adds that because of the increased licensing requirements there aren't as many financial advisors as there used to be. "This decreases the inventory of financial advisors, thereby increasing their value."
How to Get Started: If you're ready to put your financial savvy to work, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, or law to prepare to pursue this field, the Department says.