How stressful is the job you seek?
News analysis by Byron Belzak

JobsRated.com presents a well-researched ranking of the top 200 jobs based on a number of criteria, including stress.

This fascinating list provides valuable information about the stress of each job. The higher the number, the greater the stress.

For example, all of the following jobs have a similarly low stress factor, which ranges from 20 to 30. They are the astromomer, barber, bank teller, bartender, bookkeeper, computer programmer, dental lab technician, food server, forklift operator, guard, historian, janitor, jeweler, insurance underwriter, and librarian.

Also included in the 20 to 30 range is the maid, the medical lab technician, meteorologist, paralegal assistant, parole officer, piano tuner, pharmacist, philosopher, physicist, receptionist, sociologist, vocational counselor, and web designer.

Compare this to the stress factor of an airline pilot at 85; police officer at 94; surgeon at 99, and a taxi driver who hits an even 100. 

The most stressful jobs of the 200 top-ranked jobs, as you might expect, deal with putting out fires: a senior corporate executive occupies the rarified-air suite at 109, but a firefighter climbs to the highest stress level at 111.

However, most jobs fall somewhere in the middle of the stress-o-meter, such as a chemist at 31, a farmer at 32, geologist at 33, an archeologist at 34, a publication editor at 35, an aerospace engineer at 35, a zoologist at 36, and a civil engineer and a museum curator both come in at 37. 

A chiropractor, financial planner, meter reader, occupational therapist, photographer, and plumber all share a stress factor of 38. 

A bus driver, an economist, a nuclear engineer, and a tool-and-die maker each has a stress factor of 39, followed by a bricklayer at 41.

A butcher, a member of the clergy, and a personnel recruiter all have a stress factor of 42.

This is followed by a garbage collector at 43; dentist at 44; hotel manager at 45; carpenter at 45, and flight attendant at 46. A federal judge, a roofer, and an undertaker share the same stress level of 47, followed by a nurse, podiatrist and social worker who each tally in at 48, a mail carrier comes in at 49.

In the mid-stress range are a psychologist and a nuclear decontamination technician both at 50, and a teacher at 51. A fine art artist, newscaster, and school principal all share a stress factor of 52, while an automobile mechanic comes in at 54, followed by an author at 58.

In the 60s stress range are an advertising salesperson at 60; an actor and an insurance agent at 63, followed by an attorney and a physician, who both share 64. A newspaper reporter deals with a stress factor of 65; an architect at 67, and a lumberjack at 68.

Getting toward the upper end of stressful jobs is the stockbroker at 72; the photojournalist and a real estate agent, both at 73; an advertising account executive at 75, and a public relations executive at 79. 

FYI: The least stressful job listed is the music instrument repair person who doesn't even crack a sweat at 20; in fact, he or she comes in, most peacefully, at a factor of 19.

But there's more than stress, or lack thereof, in this job ranking...

Below are the top 20 rated jobs today. They are based on a number of criteria, not just stress. They are judged on other factors that include work environment and income. From top to bottom, they are as follows:
 
1. Mathematician
2. Actuary
3. Statistician
4. Biologist
5. Software Engineer

6. Computer Systems Analyst
7. Historian
8. Sociologist
9. Industrial Designer
10. Accountant

11. Economist
12. Philosopher
13. Physicist
14. Parole Officer
15. Meteorologist

16. Medical Laboratory Technician
17. Paralegal Assistant
18. Computer Programmer
19. Motion Picture Editor
20. Astronomer

For a comprehensive job ranking of 200 jobs that are based on five criteria (stress, work environment, physical demands, income and outlook for the future), visit JobsRated.com or Click Here>