6 Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Really Well

There’s no such thing as a perfect, stress-free job; every occupation, role, and career path will require dealing with some amount of on-the-job stress. But there are definitely some jobs that tend to be less stressful than others.

And the good news? Just because a job offers a low level of stress doesn’t mean it delivers a small paycheck. There are a variety of low-stress jobs that pay a lot—and can help you establish a thriving, lucrative career.

So if you’ve been wondering how to get a high-paying job that doesn’t make you feel like ripping out your hair on a daily basis, you’ve come to the right place.

Defining “Low Stress” and “High Pay”

Before we jump into a few of the lower-stress careers that pay well, let’s quickly cover how we’re defining those terms—and how to best make sense of the data.

Let’s start with stress. We’re defining “low stress” as any occupation that scores a 70 or below on O*NET’s stress tolerance ratings, which measure the extent to which “accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations” is part of the job.

Of course, it’s also important to consider what would make a better-paying job low-stress for you. “For example, one person may prefer and thrive with a high level of ambiguity in their work, while another might find lack of clear direction stressful,” says Nicolle Merrill, future of work expert and author of Punch Doubt in the Face: How to Upskill, Change Careers, and Beat the Robots.

Your work environment also plays a role in how stressed you feel at work. “Working in a large organization like a Fortune 500 company offers a different experience compared to working in a nonprofit, startup, small business, or university setting,” Merrill says.

Even if you pick a decent-paying job that is generally low stress, if you hold that role in a stressful environment, chances are, your day-to-day experience will be stressful, too. “For example, startups are fast-paced. Often your tasks will go beyond the scope of your actual job. You will wear many hats,” says Merrill. “So a software developer working at a startup will work at a more intense pace than one working in a university setting. Even though a software developer is considered a low-stress, high-paying job, the organizational context matters.”

While many of these low-stress, high-paying jobs require advanced education (optometrist, political scientist, and statistician, for example), there are a number of others you can break into with a bachelor’s degree and some hustle (software developer, technical writer, and environmental restoration planner).

Here are more than a dozen jobs that make good money:

1. Software Developer

Software developers write and develop applications and systems that run on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Software developers may be self-employed or work directly with a brand or corporation. While many software developers have a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, it’s not required; many developers teach themselves to code or leverage alternative programs (like coding bootcamps) to develop their programming skills.

2. Actuary

Actuaries use math, statistics, and more to analyze financial risk. Typically, actuaries work for insurance companies and help develop models to predict the financial risk and economic cost of various situations, including natural disasters, accidents, and illnesses. Actuaries need a bachelor’s degree in math or a related field—and in order to become certified to practice, they need to pass a series of exams.

3. Technical Writer

Technical writers specialize in writing technical copy, a category that includes instruction manuals, journal articles, and other documents that explore complex technical issues. While an educational background in computers, technology, or engineering is often helpful, a degree isn’t necessarily required; if you can write about technical issues with authority and clarity, you can be a technical writer.

4. Art Director

Art directors are responsible for leading the artistic vision, direction, strategy, and team of an artistic project, like a magazine, new product launch, or film or television project. Art directors can work in a variety of settings and capacities; some are self-employed, some work for an agency or PR firm, and some are employed directly by brands or editorial publications. Most art directors have a bachelor’s degree in an art-related field and extensive experience working in a hands-on artistic role (for example, as a graphic designer or photographer).

5. Economist

Economists conduct research, collect and analyze data, and explore issues related to economics and economic policy. They may be independently employed or work for the government or a university, and because of their expertise, many economists also author books, papers, and articles on economics. The majority of economists have an advanced degree (a master’s or more typically a PhD), but some entry-level positions are available with a bachelor’s degree.

6. Chemical Engineer

Chemical engineers apply a variety of sciences—including chemistry, biology, and physics—to solve problems related to the production and use of a variety of products, including food, drugs, energy, and chemicals. Chemical engineers can work in a laboratory, office, or manufacturing setting (or split their time among those). Candidates need at least a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering to get started in the field—and because employers want experienced chemical engineers, it’s particularly important to get some internship or co-op experience under their belt.