It's no surprise to anybody that some jobs are more stressful than others. But while lots of positions might have you biting your nails, grinding your teeth or eyeing the clock with disturbing regularity, some jobs really have others topped as a source of major stress in life.
According to Careercast.com, there are 10 jobs out of a field of 200 that it evaluated that win (if one can call it that) the competition for most stressful jobs in 2017. In its most recent jobs rated report — something it's issued for close to 30 years — it once again has reviewed positions for what it calls the key criteria of income, growth outlook, work environment and stress.
Over the course of those decades, it points out, there have been dramatic changes in the labor market. In some cases, this has been a good thing — for instance, the rise in demand for careers in mathematics, which has boosted such numbers-specific jobs as mathematician, statistician and data scientist but also given rise to opportunities in health care, business, marketing and "even entertainment."
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But in other fields, those changes have definitely not been positive, such as in media — where, it says, "New platforms and outlets have made for a much more difficult job market for newspaper reporters and broadcasters, two of the lowest ranking fields this year."
Job stress can come from a variety of different origins: a hazardous work environment, difficult-to-meet deadlines, heavy physical demands, and imminent danger. The pulse-pounding threats of death or injury come to mind. But there are also the stresses of deadlines, an ever-shifting job scope and the demands of not just bosses but the public — that last something that can never be satisfied for very long. And sometimes the jobs with the most stress are those you might least expect.
If you're thinking of seeking out a new career path that won't jangle your nerves so much, you might want to have a gander at these before you do, lest you end up in a deceptively enticing job that has you doing a lot worse than biting your nails.
And, since you'll want to ask, two positions out of the 200 apparently tied at #25 (medical records technician and web developer), hence all the others being ranked at X out of 199, not 200.
10. Broadcaster
Stress score: 47.93
Growth outlook: -9 percent
Ranked at 198 out of 199 (overall out of the 200 career paths evaluated), broadcasters are definitely not at the top of the popularity heap these days. A median salary of $38,870, coupled with a "very poor" work environment at 179 out of 199 (at least in the White House press room these days), a "very high" stress level of 189 out of 199 and a "very poor" growth rate that's actually going pretty far in the opposite direction, at 195 out of 199, it's hard to see how this job isn't at the very bottom of the heap — at least, until you check out some of the others.
9. Taxi driver
Stress score: 48.18
Growth outlook: 13 percent
Although the projected growth rate for this category is good at 13 percent, the job of taxi driver isn't considered a great occupation, with an overall ranking of 190 out of 199. Not only is the median salary low at $24,300 (can you say Uber?), the job has a "very poor" work environment (ask any New York City cabbie) at 189 out of 199 and a "very high" stress level at 190 out of 199.
8. Public relations executive
Stress score: 48.50
Growth outlook: 7 percent
The median salary isn't bad, at $107,320, but when it comes to some of the other essentials, you might want to go hide from the public before you sign on the dotted line. The job only scores 156 out of 199, with a "very poor" work environment (177 out of 199), a "very high" stress level (192 out of 199) and just a "fair" projected growth rate (104 out of 199).
Just be glad you're not Sean Spicer.
7. Senior corporate executive
Stress score: 48.56
Growth outlook: 6 percent
While the median salary sounds good, at $102,690, other things about the job could be a definite turnoff. A "very poor" work environment (185 out of 199), a "very high" stress level (191 out of 199) and only "fair" projected growth (119 out of 199) could make for a very unsettling career.
Overall, this job scored a discouraging 134 out of 199.
6. Newspaper reporter
Stress score: 49.90
Growth outlook: -8 percent
Oh, poor newspaper reporters ranked 199 out of 199. Now that everything's on the Web, it's tough to survive in print. Not only is the median salary on the low side, at $37,820, the job comes with a "very poor" projected growth rate at 192 out of 199 that once again is going in the wrong direction — down, at -8 percent.
Couple that with a "very poor" work environment (196 out of 199) and a "very high" stress level at 193 out of 199, and it's a wonder there are any budding Jimmy Olsens any more, who actually want to write for the papers. Especially since they can't count on Superman.
5. Event coordinator
Stress score: 51.15
Growth outlook: 10 percent
Putting together all those details for a median salary of just $47,350 just won't seem worth it when you consider that this job placed 169 out of 199. It comes with a "very poor" work environment (166 out of 199) and a "very high" stress level (194 out of 199), but it does offer a "good" projected growth rate at 75 out of 199.
Still, wouldn't you rather dance at the wedding than have to organize it?
4. Police officer
Stress score: 51068
Growth outlook: 4 percent
Another job that seems to make headlines daily, and not in a good way. Police rank 178 out of 199 overall, with a "very poor" work environment (192 out of 199), a "very high" stress level (195 out of 199) and a "poor" projected growth rate (144 out of 199).
The median salary of $61,600 might not be so tempting when you consider all that.
3. Airline pilot
Stress score: 60.54
Growth outlook: 5 percent
If you doubt that the friendly skies aren't so friendly these days, all you have to do is look at the headlines. Major physical confrontations with passengers by flight crews, hostile hearings on Capitol Hill and the stress of coping with flight schedules (remember, the Big Incident recently had to do with flight personnel trying to hitch a ride to their next assignment) all take a major toll not just on morale but on mental well-being.
That could be why this job only got a rating of 142 out of 199, despite a median salary of $105,720; it also has a "very poor" work environment (163 out of 199), "very high" stress level (196 out of 199) and a "poor" projected growth rate (137 out of 199).
As the old saying goes, maybe you should keep your feet on the ground.
2. Firefighter
Stress score: 72.68
Growth outlook: 5 percent
You'd better love danger and be a true hero at heart if you want to be a firefighter. Ranked 193 out of 199, this job has a "poor" growth rate at 137 out of 199, a median salary of $48,030, a "very poor" work environment (duh!) at 199 out of 199 and a "very high" stress level at 198 out of 199. And where would we be without them?
1. Enlisted military personnel
Stress score: 72.74
Growth outlook: N/A
Definitely not your first choice if you're looking for a less stressful environment, the career of being enlisted in the military is rated at just 196 out of 199. It comes with a low median salary of $27,936; a "very poor" work environment, at 198 out of 199 (gee, being shot at on a battlefield ranks above entering a burning house?); a "very high" stress level (199 out of 199) and a "very poor) projected growth rate at 169 out of 199.
If it's any consolation, military generals didn't fare a whole lot better — except, of course, in salary. And in that they give the orders.
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