Workers know that along with a steady income, stress comes as part of any job. But some jobs are more stressful than others, as some of these careers come with a high risk of injury or loss of life.
Meanwhile, other stressful jobs require a certain amount of know-how, grace under pressure, a knack for organization, and problem-solving skills. For its 2017 report, Career Cast has compiled the 10 most stressful jobs in America.
Making it to the bottom of the top 10 list of stressful jobs is a broadcaster. Though Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper, and Megyn Kelly seem to make it look easy, being in front of the camera is stressful as it requires grueling hours. Broadcasters also have to be able to write his or her own scripts and deliver the news on air at any given time.
A taxi driver is at number 9 on the list. Apart from being on the road for most of the day, taxi drivers deal with traffic, passengers threats, and fare evasion, among others. Most drivers usually work 80 hours a week to make the median annual salary of $23,510, and the long hours could take a toll on one’s body.
The number 8 spot goes to public relations executive. Being in PR is an intense and difficult job, and one needs to be congenial and patient when working in this field. PR executives also need to be able to communicate well and have multi-tasking skills to cope with the demands of this line of work.
Number 7 goes to a senior corporate executive. This job has one of the highest median annual salaries in the list at $102,690, but that type of pay comes with the stress of making big decisions to benefit a whole company.
A newspaper reporter is on the number 6 spot. Just like doctors, a reporter is on call 24/7 as he or she has to be where the story is. Chasing down a story, making deadlines, and covering difficult topics such as school shootings, conflict, or murders all add up to a reporter’s stress level.
The number 5 spot goes to event coordinators. Those who plan events such as weddings, corporate parties, product launches and the like are typically met with a lot of stress factors on the job. To be an effective event coordinator, one must be focused, organized, and able to deal with problems while keeping a cool head.
Number 2, 3, and 4 on the list are firefighters, airline pilots, and police officers, respectively. These workers are tasked to keep people safe from harm, and that kind of responsibility can be stressful for anyone working in these fields.
The number 1 spot goes to enlisted military personnel. It’s interesting to note how the most stressful job in America also comes with one of the lowest median annual salary--$27,936. Being enlisted means being away from loved ones, putting oneself in the line of fire, and protecting oneself while doing so. It’s no wonder that this job gets the top spot in the list of most stressful jobs in America.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on how the most successful people in the world stay in shape.
