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The 10 Most Stressful Careers In 2013
No one ever said doing your job would be an easy task.
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And with today's high expectations, chronic stress in the workplace is getting more common. However, some jobs still promise to be more stressful than others.
CareerCast.com rated the stress levels of 200 jobs based on physical demand and danger, growth potential, deadlines, travel, environmental conditions, time in the public eye, competitiveness and the possibility of having to save your own or somebody else's life.
All of the jobs on this list have intense deadlines or require workers to be in the line of immediate physical danger.
Stress Score: 45.60
Median Salary: $55,010
Job Outlook: 7 percent
"An officer’s beat can be one of the most dangerous in the working world. Breaking down doors not knowing what's on the other side definitely raises blood pressure levels. And loss of life on the job is a real, on-going concern. Police officers are tasked with a community’s safety, but they must also uphold the standards to which the profession is held, which can also be a challenge."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 46.18
Median Salary: $22,440
Job Outlook: 20 percent
"Low pay, potentially undesirable hours and danger make taxi driving a very stressful endeavor. Taxi drivers are among the most susceptible to robbery of any other profession, making this a particularly dangerous career option."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 46.75
Median Salary: $36,000
Job Outlook: -6 percent
"Newsrooms around the country are cutting back on staff and requiring reporters to work longer hours at lower pay, and be masters of new online technologies. These changes add to the stress of a job that already carries the responsibility of working under the strictest of deadlines as well as a high public profile."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 47.12
Median Salary: $29,130
Job Outlook 13 percent
"The images from natural disasters and war that bring their gravity into our homes come from intrepid photojournalists. These are dangerous situations, and the option to flee is only a last resort since enduring the worst to capture these dangerous moments is the photojournalists’ responsibility. A select few can command top dollar, but wages are typically low."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 47.46
Median Salary: $101,250
Job Outlook 14 percent
"Market volatility challenges corporations and the people who lead them in today’s tough economic climate. Corporate executives are the public faces of these companies, thus are beholden to investors, board members, employees and the public."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 48.52
Median Salary: $57,550
Job Outlook 21 percent
"Public relations executives are masters of damage control, thus need to be able to think and act quickly under stress. The profession lives in the public eye, and it’s also one of the professions attracting the most college students, which makes landing and keeping a good job that much more difficult."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 60.28
Median Salary: $92,060
Job Outlook: 11 percent
"The fear of flying is a common phobia, despite statistics supporting the safety of air travel. However, commercial travel is safe because of the men and women captaining airplanes. The possibility of danger is very real, and it’s the assurance and experience of a seasoned pilot that make flight safe. Commercial airline pilots spend long stretches away from home while traveling around the continent – if not around the globe."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 60.45
Median Salary: $45,250
Job Outlook: 9 percent
"The U.S. Fire Administration reported 81 on-duty fatalities in 2011 and 77 in 2012, making this one of the most dangerous career paths. Firefighters typically work shifts up to 48 hours, which contributes to physical fatigue and can weigh heavily on family life and emotional well-being."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 65.54
Median Salary: $196,300
Job Outlook: Varies by enlistment
"Generals dictate tactical strategy in combat, which directly impacts both the success of military operations and the safety of subordinates. With global tumult and the United States’ continued involvement in Afghanistan, the decisions generals make effect the lives of the soldiers who trust them most."
Source: CareerCast
Stress Score: 84.72
Median Salary: : $41,998
Job Outlook: Varies
"The dangers of serving as enlisted military personnel are well known at times of conflict, especially while on active duty deployment. But even in times of peace, military members take on many rigorous tasks, such as aiding in natural disaster relief. Another challenge military personnel face is transitioning into the civilian job force. Organizations around the nation work to help military personnel land jobs after their service, but it can often be an uphill climb."
Source: CareerCast
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