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HIGH-PAYING, LOW STRESS JOBSby Amy Bell
If you're like thousands of other job seekers, you may dream of
earning the big bucks without having to deal with the extreme stress
that goes hand-in-hand with top-paying jobs. Of course, a high-salary,
low-stress job sounds too good to be true. Or is it?
Believe it or not, you don't have to take on a heart-pounding career
as a brain surgeon, airline pilot or stock broker to bring home some
serious bacon. As a matter of fact, some of the highest-stress jobs
pay surprisingly scanty salaries. Just think about police officers,
firefighters and social workers. These folks have quite possibly the
most nerve-racking jobs in the world, yet most of them earn less than
$45,000 a year. What about combat soldiers who face death on a daily
basis? They typically earn less than $30,000 a year.
In other words, high stress does not always equal a hefty salary, or
vice versa. Fortunately, there are plenty of laid-back career choices
that pay quite generously.
Physical Therapist
Although physical therapists (PT) work in the notoriously stressful
medical field, they enjoy some unique advantages over ER nurses and
doctors. First of all, PTs have flexible hours and generally aren't
expected to work nights. Secondly, many physical therapists are self-
employed - which means they don't have to deal with the stress of a
boss breathing down their neck while they work.
Plus, as the massive Baby Boomer generation continues grow older and
face new physical challenges, PTs are constantly flooded with
patients. As a result, physical therapists rarely suffer from dry
spells.
To top it all off, physical therapists can earn anywhere between
$50,000-105,000 a year. Now that's therapeutic.
Computer Software Engineer
If you're a tech geek seeking a relatively low-pressure career, you
may want to check out the software engineering field. Software
engineers design and test a variety of different types of software,
from computer games to operating systems to business applications.
These days, many software engineers can work from home, since their
jobs can be done from practically anywhere.
Software engineers also bring home steep salaries, normally ranging
between $54,000-130,000 a year. There's nothing nerdy about that.
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers design and build our nation's infrastructure, from
public buildings and roads to water supply and pollution control
systems. Obviously, these projects aren't pressure-free, but civil
engineers generally work in teams, which helps alleviate some of the
stress. As a bonus, these experts also enjoy long deadlines. As a
matter of fact, most engineers have a few years to design and plan out
a project before the construction company even breaks ground.
Even less stressful? Civil engineers don't have to work too hard to
hunt down jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil
engineers are expected to see a 24% spike in employment growth over
the next 10 years - well above average for all U.S. occupations. Civil
engineers bring home a respectable $50,000-115,000 a year.
Massage Therapist
Massage therapy is an extremely low-pressure, relaxing career for most
people. (As long as the thought of touching a stranger's back doesn't
drive your stress level through the roof, of course.) Not only are
most massage therapists self employed, but they also get to smell
smoothing aromatherapy scents and listen to calming background music
or ocean sounds all day while they work.
Because many massage therapists work part-time, yearly salaries vary
wildly in this field. However, most of these massaging masters charge
by the hour. On average, they earn between $10-35 an hour.
Of course, if you take on plenty of clients, you could easily earn a
salary of $45,000 or more. That kind of cash will certainly not rub
you the wrong way.
Technical Writer
In this high-tech age, new groundbreaking tools, mobile devices or
innovative gadgets are released on practically a daily basis.
Obviously, someone has to write about these ingenious doodads and
complicated thingamabobs. That's where technical writers come into play.
Although they sometimes face tight deadlines, technical writers
typically enjoy flexible hours and a comfortable, quiet workspace.
Quite a few of them have an enviable 10-second commute - from their
bedroom to their desk. Because all they need is a phone and a computer
with an internet connection, many technical writers work from home.
What's more is that technical writers are extremely high in demand. As
technical companies continue to release pioneering new products,
someone has to transform their complex technical-ese into everyday
language the average customer can comprehend. Technical writers
generally earn between $47,000-98,000 a year.
Lower Your Stress; Raise Your Salary
So, it turns out that you don't have to risk life and limb, save lives
or suffer from stress-induced stomach ulcers to make a decent salary.
From sales managers and graphic designers to college professors and
training consultants, there are plenty of rewarding, angst-less jobs
out there that come with generous salaries.
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