Jobs With Least Stress, Best Outlook

PHOTO: A librarian is seen in this undated stock photo.
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If you don't like stress but still want a career with good prospects and a decent salary, consider becoming an audiologist, says a new report by

Audiologists, hair stylists, jewelers and tenured university professors lead the list of great jobs where stress isn't an issue, according to the list of least and most stressful jobs of 2014.

Seamstress/tailor, dietician, medical records technician, librarian, multimedia artist and drill press operator round out the nation's least stressful jobs.

The most stressful entail unpredictable conditions and high-stakes situations -- enlisted military personnel, firefighters and airline pilots, for example

"If your life is already filled with stress, you might want to consider a profession that offers job security, a good hiring outlook and salary but few physical demands, deadlines and danger," suggests Tony Lee, CareerCast's publisher.

Demand for audiologists -- professionals who treat patients' hearing needs -- is expected to grow in coming years, thanks to an increase in the senior population and the relationship between aging and loss of hearing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Other low-stress health care jobs expected to grow include medical records technicians, who keep track of the history of and care of patients, and dieticians, who assist people with achieving a healthier lifestyle.

Landing a low-stress job may require a higher level of education. Of the 10 least-stressful jobs in the report, half require at least a bachelor's degree.

Take a look, below, to see which jobs rank best and worst for stress in the 2014 report. Figures for median salary and projected growth are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise noted:

1. (Worst)

Enlisted Military Personnel

Median Salary: $28,840

Projected Job Growth: N/A

2. (Worst)

Military General

Median Salary: $196,300

Projected Job Growth: N/A

3. (Worst)


Median Salary: $45,250

Projected Job Growth: 9%

4. (Worst)

Airline Pilot

Median Salary: $114,200

Projected Job Growth: 11%

5. (Worst)

Event Coordinator

Median: $45,810

Projected Job Growth: 44%

6. (Worst)

Public Relations Executive

Median Salary: $54,170

Projected Job Growth: 21%

7. (Worst)

Corporate Executive (Senior)

Median Salary: $168,140

Projected Job Growth: 5%

8. (Worst)

Newspaper Reporter

Median Salary: $35,870

Projected Job Growth: -6%

9. (Worst)

Police Officer

Median Salary: $55,270

Projected Job Growth: 7%

10. (Worst)

Taxi Driver

Median Salary: $22,820

Projected Job Growth: 20%

The following are the 10 best (least-stressful) jobs in 2014:

1. (Best)


Median Salary: $69,720

Projected Job Growth: 37%

2. (Best)

Hair Stylist

Median Salary: $22,700

Projected Job Growth: 14%

3. (Best)


Median Salary: $35,350

Projected Job Growth: -5%

4. (Best)

University Professor (Tenured)

Median: $64,290

Projected Job Growth: 17%

5. (Best)


Median Salary: $26,280

Projected Job Growth: 1%

6. (Best)


Median Salary: $55,240

Projected Job Growth: 20%

7. (Best)

Medical Records Technician

Median Salary: $34,160

Projected Job Growth: 21%

8. (Best)


Median Salary: $55,370

Projected Job Growth: 7%

9. (Best)

Multimedia Artist

Median Salary: $61,370

Projected Job Growth: 8%

10. (Best)

Drill Press Operator

Median Salary: $35,580

Projected Job Growth: 6%

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