Whether it’s tight deadlines, long hours, or life-or-death situations, every job has its share of stress, although some have more than others.
According to Mental Health America’s 2022 Mind the Workplace report, a quarter to a third of people’s lives will take place in the workplace, and four out of five employees say job stress affects their relationships.
The Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, part of the US Department of Labor, recently ranked 873 of the nation’s most stressful jobs. The ranking highlights the importance of accepting criticism and handling high-stress situations calmly and effectively in each role.
Jobs don’t just include careers that pay high salaries, including urologists (ranked #1) and judges (ranked #4). Some of the jobs pay low median salaries, such as acute care nurses (ranked No. 6) and retail supervisors (No. 9).
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While some O*NET ranking positions require multiple degrees or higher education, the list includes “many low- and medium-skilled occupations with high levels of stress,” notes Sania Khan, chief economist at Eightfold AI.
Khan said the United States could see a decline in high-stress jobs like entry-level positions at investment banks or law firms, citing “changes in worker sentiment overall.”
“People are less tied to their employers these days, as we encountered with the ‘Great Resignation,’ so workers may feel less inclined to follow such paths,” Khan said.
Here are the 10 most stressful jobs on O*NET’s list, including their duties, median annual salaries, and stress level out of 100.
1. Urologists
Functions: Urologists specialize in conditions affecting the urinary tract and also treat diseases that affect the reproductive system.
Stress level: 100
Median annual salary: $208,000
2. Film and video editors
Functions: Film and video editors edit moving images onto film, video or other media. This position, which includes jobs in television and news editing roles, may work with producers or directors to arrange footage and soundtracks for final production.
Stress level: 99
Median annual salary: $62,680
3. Anesthesiologist assistants
Functions: These assistants administer anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. They also monitor the condition of the patient and provide patient care during the surgical treatment.
Stress level: 98
Median annual salary: $121,530
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4. Judges and magistrates
Functions: Judges administer justice in a court. They can convict the accused, determine the responsibility of the accused in civil cases or even organize wedding ceremonies.
Stress level: 98
Median annual salary: $148,030
5. Telephone operators
Functions: Telephone companies provide information to callers by accessing directories and assisting them with various tasks, such as billing inquiries, charges, credits or refunds. They can also handle emergency calls and help children or people with physical disabilities make phone calls.
Stress level: 98
Median annual salary: $37,630
6. Acute care nurses
Functions: These nurses provide advanced nursing care to patients suffering from acute illnesses such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome or shock. They may also care for patients or before and after operations, as well as perform advanced and invasive procedures.
Stress level: 98
Median annual salary: $37,630
7. Obstetricians and gynecologists
Functions: Obstetricians and gynecologists provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth, including the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the reproductive system. They can also perform medical and gynecological surgeries, as well as general women’s care.
Stress level: 97
Median annual salary: $208,000
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8. Public Safety Telecommunications
Functions: Public safety dispatchers receive and communicate 9-1-1 requests by telephone, radio or other communication system for emergency assistance. They record information regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies and other public safety matters, while giving advice or instructions to callers.
Stress level: 97
Median annual salary: $46,670
9. Front Line Retail Supervisor
Functions: These supervisors directly manage and coordinate the activities of retail vendors. In addition to duties as a supervisor, other duties may include purchasing, budgeting, and accounting.
Stress level: 96
Median annual salary: $39,230
10. Nurse anesthetists
Functions: These nurses administer anesthesia, monitor the patient’s vital signs, and oversee the patient’s recovery from anesthesia, possibly in an assistant role to anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. They must be registered nurses with advanced specialized training.
Stress level: 96
Median annual salary: $195,610
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
