Jobs with the Least and Most Stress

A new report from CareerCast, a provider of job search services, lists the top 10 least-stressful jobs for 2014, as well as the top 10 most-stressful jobs.

Along with audiologists, the top five least-stressful jobs include hair stylists, jewelers, tenured university professors and seamstresses/tailors. The positions of dietician, medical records technician, librarian, multimedia artist and drill press operator finish off the list.

“If your life is already filled with stress, you might want to consider a profession that offers job security, a good hiring outlook and salary but few physical demands, deadlines and danger,” says Tony Lee, publisher of the Carlsbad, California-based CareerCast.

Audiologists and other low-stress health care jobs bring the satisfaction of aiding others, adds Lee. Positions such as medical records technicians keep track of the history of and care of patients, while dieticians assist people with achieving a healthier lifestyle.

Landing a less-stressful job often requires a high level of education. Of the 10 least-stressful jobs, the CareerCast “Jobs Rated” report finds that half of the jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree.

On the other hand, says Lee, jobs that require unpredictable conditions and high-stakes situations are among the most stressful of 2014. These jobs are characterized as being vital functions to society and ensuring the safety of others.

For the most-stressful jobs of 2014, the list is topped by enlisted military personnel, military generals, firefighters, airline pilots and event coordinators. It is rounded out with public relations executives, senior corporate executives, newspaper reporters, police officers and taxi drivers.

The CareerCast website, CareerCast.com, offers jobs listings as well as job hunting, career management and human resource focused editorial content.

More information on the report, the full version of which is due out in April, can be found here.