We all have probably heard the old saying, ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life?’ I don’t know how many of us can genuinely say they have so much fun doing what they do and that it doesn’t feel like work. From experience, the higher the pay, the more the stress, and that is a feeling shared by most of us.
The other day, I was talking to a gentleman who was thinking of changing his career, and he swore to direct his daughter to make a better decision in terms of career path. His daughter is on her last year at high school, and he would like to see her happy in her chosen path of career as well as being able to make ends meet as she financially secures her future.
In not so many words, he would like his daughter to be on a career path with high paying jobs, but low-stress levels. If you thought there are not so many options on that front, and stress is part of the package of having a job, well, think again! There are plenty of opportunities for high paying and low-stress jobs out there.
In the list below, I have highlighted just a few of the high-pay and low-stress jobs. Courtesy of the data from the Occupational Information Network, O*NET, a database by the US Department of Labor and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Thanks to information from O*NET, we can gauge the ‘stress tolerance’ levels for each job measured on a scale of zero to 100. The higher the ratings, the higher the stress levels. Please note, the O*NET ratings are based on the frequency workers get criticism and how often they have to deal with stressful events at work.
Fuel Cell Engineer
According to O*NET, working as a Fuel Cell Engineer, you will be experiencing stress at level 50. This work entails designing, evaluating, modifying, and constructing fuel cell components. Additionally, you will be tasked with creating systems for transportation, stationary, and portable applications. Data from BLS show the average annual salary for a Fuel Cell Engineer is $88,190. A professional in this field needs to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Those with masters and Ph.D. often hold senior positions in this job.
Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist
According to O*NET, this job has a stress level of 52, and the BLS data show professionals in this field make an average of $103,990 per year. What a Remote sensing Scientist and Technologist does is apply remote sensing principles to data analysis and solve problems in areas such as urban planning, natural resources management, or homeland security. They are also tasked with developing new analytical methods, sensor systems, and new applications for already existing systems. The threshold qualification in this profession is a bachelor’s degree, though a master’s and doctoral degree are a requirement for advance stages in the career.
Materials Scientist
With a stress level of 53, Material Scientists make an average annual salary of $99,530. They do research and study substances at their atomic and molecular levels. They also investigate how the substances react with other materials and use that knowledge to come up with new and improved products with more significant benefits for industrial or home use. A Material Scientist needs to be a holder of at least a bachelor’s degree, though a master’s and Ph.D. is preferred for advanced levels of research.
Environmental Restoration Planner
This job has a stress level of 53, and the professionals in this field earn, on average, $69,400 annually. They oversee environment restoration projects after an analysis of complex scientific data and coming up with informed restoration strategies. Their strategies extend to include the monitoring and management of the environment. The minimum job qualification is a bachelor’s degree, though a good number of employers are looking for candidates with a master’s degree.
Bioinformatics Scientist
These scientists conduct research based on bioinformatics theory and methods into industries such as biotechnology, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The heights of the career come when a professional comes up with a design database and an algorithm for processing and analyzing genomic information, among other biological data. The O*NET places the job stress levels at 56, while the BLS estimates the professionals in this field take home, on average, $76,690 annually.
Cartographer and Photogrammetrist
These are professionals that collect, analyze, and interpret geographical data obtained from aerial photos, geodetic surveys, and satellite recordings. They also research, study, and draw up maps, among other spatial data for various reasons, including legal, political, educational, social, and design purposes. The O*NET places the stress levels for this job at 56, and the BLS data shows professionals in this field take home $63,990 per year. Most professionals in this field get by with just a bachelor’s degree.
Food Scientist and Technologist
These are the experts who study and establish the levels of sugar, fat, protein, and vitamins in foods. They rely on chemistry, engineering, and microbiology, among other scientific processes, to make industrially-produced and processed foods safe, healthy, and palatable for the general consumer market. Their job also entails studying the principles behind food processing and their subsequent deterioration. O*NET place the job stress levels at 56, with BLS data showing professionals in this field take home, on average, $63,660 per year. You need at least a bachelor’s degree to work in this field.
Mathematician
Well, you first need to have a love for numbers and skills to crunch them accurately. If that comes naturally to you, then working as a mathematician is not a stressful job. According to O*NET, this field of work as a stress level of 57. The professionals in this field research fundamental mathematics and seek out the application of the established principles and solutions to real-life challenges in the economy, construction, and management science, among other fields. The BLS data puts the average salary for Mathematicians at $112,560. Those employed by the government often require either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but private companies may require a candidate with a doctorate.
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologist
These professionals oversee design, production, and modification processes for nanomaterial to improve the molecular and macromolecular composition of materials. Materials that could be used to improve industrial processes and products. The O*NET places the stress levels for this industry at 58, while the BLS estimates professionals in this field make, on average, $62,230 per year.
Industrial Engineering Technologist
An Industrial Engineering Technologist work entails assisting industrial engineers in activities like inventory control, material flow design, and quality control. They also do statistical studies and analyze production costs. The job stress level stands at 58, while the professionals take home, on average, $62,230 annually. A bachelor’s degree would suffice for most employers in this industry.
Economist
An economist is a professional who studies the production of resources, goods, services, and subsequent distribution from the producer through the retailer, to the final consumer. According to O*NET, the job stress levels stand at 59, and BLS places the annual salary for these professionals at $102,490.
Geographic Information Systems Technician
These professionals work as assistants to scientists, technologies, and other professionals involved in building, repairing, and renovating using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases. The O*NET puts stress levels for this job at 59, while the BLS estimates the average annual salary for professionals in this field to be $88,510 per year. For most employers, a bachelor’s degree will suffice.
Statistician
Statisticians are professionals who use statistical methods to collect and process data. They then come up with real-life solutions from the statistics that apply to businesses, sciences, and engineering, among other fields. This job has a stress level of 59, and they take home, on average, $84,060 per year.
Applications Software Developer
The ‘devs,’ as they like to be called, are software developers creating things like websites and applications for both mobile and desktop computer devices. The O*NET puts job stress levels for developers at 60, and BLS estimates they make an annual salary of $101,790.
Well, at this point, you are probably amazed at just how many low stress and high pay jobs are out there. Guess the saying, ‘if you love what you do, you never have to work for the rest of your life.’ While the career itself might not score high on the stress gauge meters, it does not necessarily mean the path to there is easy.
For one, going through and passing your college and university education comes with its inherent stress. Then, again, is there such a thing as a stress-free life? Perhaps the primary goal should be learning how to better manage the stress by dealing with it the proper way, knowing when you are stressed, what gets you stressed up, and, most importantly, getting help. The hard truth is, most of the time, stress is part of life in general. Though ideally, we should try to avoid stressful situations, that can only take you so far. The real challenge is knowing how to manage it. Sometimes that entails involving a trusted confidant or the help of a professional like a counselor or psychiatris