Stressful Jobs
By: Peyton Nott
#1 Military Personnel
There are a variety of duties an enlisted soldier may perform as a part of his or her job. From serving food in the mess hall to fighting a battle on the front line, to avoiding land mines along the path to a village, the duties a soldier carries out have very different levels of responsibility. However, on aggregate, the Enlisted Soldier takes our top spot for most stressful. Median salary: $46,000
#2 Military General
The complex and dangerous nature of their work, as well as the necessity to make life and death decisions for their troops, results in this being ranked as a highly stressful profession. Median salary: $196,000
#3 Firefighter
Whether it’s running into burning buildings to save lives, putting out raging fires or responding to a serious accident, Firefighters put their lives on the line to save others. The high degree of danger mixed with life and death decisions makes this our number two most stressful job. Median salary: $42,000
#4 Commercial Airline Pilot
The pressure is high for commercial airline pilots. They are not only expected to guarantee the safety of passengers, but also to keep their flights on-time, even when flying in inclement weather. A pilot's irregular working hours and routes lead to continual layovers in various cities and, often, to jet lag. Median salary: $92,000
#5 Public Relations Executive
Public Relations Officers are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive image with the public for companies, non-profits and government agencies. They typically are responsible for giving presentations and making speeches, often in front of large crowds. This very competitive field, which often includes highly visible, tight deadlines, keeps stress at high-levels for specialists. Some PR executives are required to interact with potentially hostile members of the media, especially after a disaster. Median salary: $58,000
#6 Senior Corporate Executive
Corporate Executives are in charge of formulating the policies and strategies for their companies, while also directing the operations. Senior executives are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of many different fields at once. They face pressure to make company-wide decisions that can have far-reaching effects for the employees, including layoffs. Median salary: $101,000
#7 Photojournalist
Photojournalists capture their stories through the lens of a camera. They are often on the frontlines of dangerous situations in order to get the story, such as fires and battlefields. Danger in the field, tight deadlines and potential technological glitches are factors why their jobs can be considered stressful. Median salary: $29,000
#8 Newspaper Reporter
The types of stress may vary depending upon what the reporter covers. A police reporter who goes out to crime scenes may be in more physical danger than, say, a reporter who covers fashion. Median salary: $36,000
#9 Taxi Driver
Navigating through the maze of a city or the outskirts of the suburbs, a taxi driver drives to locations near and far to pick up and drop off passengers by request. They’re also the No. 1 target for crime in most cities and are required to work long hours to earn minimal pay. Median salary: $22,000
#10 Police Officer
A police officer helps to provide protection to citizens against crime and investigates criminal activities. They work with the public on crime-prevention measures and education, and often are the first responders to serious accidents and dangerous events. They’re a constant target to criminals, which makes this profession very stressful. Median salary: $55,000