Watch CBS News

Top 10 Most, Least Stressful Jobs

CARLSBAD (CBS4) -- A new internet report lists the most stressful jobs and four of the top 10 most stressful professions are media-related. But let's start at the top.

CareerCast.com's stressful jobs report found that the most stressful 'white collar' profession for 2011 is Commercial Airline Pilot. Certainly a Southwest Airlines pilot can attest to that, after a hole ripped through the fuselage en route to Sacramento, Calif., recently, forcing the flight to make an emergency landing in the Arizona desert.

Public Relations Executive was listed as the second most stressful job, followed by Senior Corporate Executives.

Photojournalists and newscasters came in fourth and fifth.

"Jobs in communications can be high pressure, especially for public relations executives handling crisis situations, newscasters who go on-air with little or no time for preparation, and photojournalists working in dangerous environments," said Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. "And as traditional forms of communication transition to digital, those who want to remain employed need to embrace new technologies or find a new career."

Rounding out the top ten most stressful jobs are Advertising Account Executive, Architect, Stockbroker, Emergency Medical, and Real Estate Agent.

Ranking number one on the list of 'blue collar' jobs is firefighter.

"If you can imagine such a stressful incident that happens to you once in your life, imagine having
to manage those types of incidents over 20 to 30 years," said Miami Fire Captain Josepth Zahralban

Taxi cab drivers came in second and cabbie Roberto Schingal knows why.

"You drive, drive, drive, spend money, spend gas but make no money," said Schingal.

Rounding out the top five are police officer, highway patrol officer and lumberjack.

So what are the least stressful jobs according to CareerCast.com?

The least stressful is an audiologist, a practitioner who assesses and treats hearing disorders.

More than half of the 10 least stressful professions are in the health care field. Here's the rest of the list:

2. Dietitian
3. Software Engineer
4. Computer Programmer
5. Dental Hygienist
6. Speech Pathologist
7. Philosopher
8. Mathematician
9. Occupational Therapist
10. Chiropractor

"Professions that involve low stress have very little danger and minimal physical demands, both of which can compound stress," explained Lee. "Job seekers who want a laid back career and a high quality of life should look for professions that involve shorter work weeks, low pressure and little competition, like those that ranked in our top 10 least stressful professions list."

CareerCast.com's 2011 report on the least and most stressful professions surveyed 200 different jobs, measuring work environment, job competitiveness and risk to determine the rankings.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.