No career is completely free from stress. Every job comes with responsibilities, and responsibilities bring challenges—but some careers offer a significantly lower-stress environment than others, especially if you love what you do.
For Inger Stovanich, a jeweler in Hamilton, N.J., work is a passion, not a source of anxiety.
“Helping customers select or create jewelry, especially for special occasions, still brings me a lot of joy, even after 32 years in this business,” says Stovanich. Jeweler ranks No. 3 in CareerCast.com’s 2014 Jobs Rated report on the least stressful careers.
“Each day I look forward to my job, and I’d have to agree that stress isn’t an emotion I feel at work. I truly love what I do.”
The type of stress a job presents depends on the field. Some careers come with unavoidable pressure—high-risk jobs like firefighter, police officer, or enlisted military personnel inherently demand more from workers. Others, however, provide stability, autonomy, and rewarding interactions without high-intensity pressure.
What Makes a Job Less Stressful?
According to the 2014 Jobs Rated Report, audiologist ranks as the least stressful job in America.
Debbie Abel, an audiologist in Poway, Calif., has spent 35 years in the field and says that while every job has its challenges, the rewards far outweigh the stress.
“I have people on my Facebook [page] who I fit with hearing aids as children, and they are having their own children now,” Abel says. “The relationships are the rewards and seeing how audiology positively impacted their lives. I can’t imagine having done anything else.”
The 11 key factors considered when ranking job stress levels include:
- Travel (more travel, higher stress)
- Growth potential (dead-end jobs tend to create more stress)
- Deadlines
- Working in the public eye
- Competitiveness within the organization
- Physical demands
- Environmental conditions
- Risk to one’s own life
- Hazards encountered
- Meeting the public
- Risk to another person’s life
For example, a multimedia artist working in an office scores lower in stress than a lumberjack who works in unpredictable conditions. Similarly, police officers and firefighters face significant on-the-job risks compared to careers like hair stylist, which ranks second on the least stressful list.
Low-Stress Jobs Still Have High Impact
Careers at the top of the most stressful jobs list—such as military personnel and firefighters—are demanding but critical to society. However, a lower-stress job can still be incredibly meaningful.
Abel explains that audiologists help patients throughout their lifetime. Similarly, other low-stress healthcare jobs, such as:
- Medical Records Technician – managing patient care records for thousands of individuals
- Dietitian – assisting clients in achieving a healthier lifestyle
These roles provide stability and long-term fulfillment without extreme work-related stress.
Education and Low-Stress Careers
Many low-stress jobs require higher education. Of the top 10 least stressful jobs of 2014, half require at least a bachelor’s degree.
For example:
- Audiologists and tenured university professors need postsecondary education, and more states now require audiologists to earn doctorates.
- The road to tenure is long, but once achieved, university professors enjoy job security, lucrative salaries, and strong benefits.
According to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, tenured professors earned:
- $82,363 annually at Baccalaureate programs
- Up to $115,579 at research institutions
Many also receive tuition reimbursement for their families. But more than the financial rewards, professors gain deep satisfaction from sharing knowledge with students.
Final Thoughts: Why Job Satisfaction Matters
Ultimately, the greatest reward in a job isn’t just the salary or benefits—it’s fulfillment. Finding a career that aligns with your skills, interests, and values can make even the most routine work feel meaningful and enjoyable.
Whether you’re considering a career switch or exploring your first job, knowing which professions offer lower stress and higher satisfaction can help guide your decision.
Least Stressful Jobs of 2014
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Median Salary: $65,620
- Stress Score: 5.07
- Projected Growth: 17.00%
- Hair Stylist
- Median Salary: $24,300
- Stress Score: 6.61
- Projected Growth: 10.00%
- Audiologist
- Median Salary: $75,980
- Stress Score: 7.22
- Projected Growth: 20.00%
- University Professor
- Median Salary: $75,430
- Stress Score: 8.16
- Projected Growth: 15.00%
- Medical Records Technician
- Median Salary: $38,040
- Stress Score: 8.54
- Projected Growth: 13.00%
- Compliance Officer
- Median Salary: $66,540
- Stress Score: 8.78
- Projected Growth: 5.00%
- Jeweler
- Median Salary: $38,200
- Stress Score: 9.05
- Projected Growth: -3.00%
- Pharmacy Technician
- Median Salary: $30,920
- Stress Score: 9.14
- Projected Growth: 12.00%
- Operations Research Analyst
- Median Salary: $79,200
- Stress Score: 9.17
- Projected Growth: 27.00%
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Median Salary: $50,930
- Stress Score: 10.00
- Projected Growth: 10.00%
