5 Best Low-Stress, High-Paying Jobs With Six-Figure Salaries In 2024

Job stress can be debilitating, even deadly over time, and in some instances it can bring a promising career to a screeching halt, especially in a nation recovering from collective trauma found here. Google searches about work stress reached an all time high in December, and a recent study shows 62% of the American workforce have high levels of stress, extreme fatigue and feel out of control. The younger generation feels it the most, according to Bryce Colburn, lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint, but good news looms on the horizon. “A growing number of reports state that employees are experiencing high levels of stress, and the younger generation seems to feel it the most,” he says. “Digging into these statistics further, the USA Today Blueprint team was inspired to create a list of the top low-stress, high-paying jobs.”

2024 High-Paying Jobs With Low Stress

While it’s true that higher pay comes with its own unique issues, like higher taxes and lifestyle creep, a high-paying job doesn’t have to come at the cost of high stress. USA Today Blueprint analyzed jobs with median annual wages of $100,000 or more along with low stress tolerance scores as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s database, Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Measuring each occupation’s stress tolerance on a scale of 0 to 100, they came up with top five picks with low stress and high pay so those contemplating a career change won’t have to sacrifice their mental health to earn big bucks. That means you can have a high-paying job without the cost of high stress in any of the following positions:

1. Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists are experts at collecting and analyzing data from satellites, aircraft, ground-based platforms and geographic information systems. They apply this data to solve problems in urban planning, homeland security or natural resource management. Stress tolerance score of 52, median wages $107,970.
2. Environmental Economists research environmental topics and spread awareness of the environmental implications of various economic policies. If topics such as soil conservation, endangered species protection, alternative fuel use and pollution strike a chord with your career ambitions, working as an environmental economist could put more money in your pocket as you look out for mother nature on a professional level without the high cost of stress. Stress tolerance score of 52, median wages $113,940.
3. Mathematicians solve problems in a variety of different fields and industries, using mathematical methods to address practical problems in science, business, engineering and other fields. Stress tolerance score of 56, median wages $112,110.
4. Water Resource Specialists implement strategies to address various water resource issues as they relate to water supply and quality, plus they oversee regulatory and compliance requirements. Their goals are to improve water conservation efforts, deploy clean water initiatives and conduct technical studies of water resources to determine water treatment options based on their findings. Stress tolerance score of 59, median wages $144,440.
5. Solar Energy Systems Engineers are alternative energy experts who create solar energy development plans for various real-world applications from single-story homes to commercial office buildings. Stress tolerance score of 61, median wages $104,600, requiring only a four-year degree.

“Our list identifies some of the best professions for those seeking low-stress, high-paying career paths,” Colburn told me by email. “However, it also emphasizes that having a high-paying job doesn’t have to come at the cost of high stress.” You will notice that many of these low-stress jobs in science, technology and mathematics require advanced degrees. For job seekers looking for a balance between pay and stress levels, green career fields such as water resource specialists and solar energy systems engineers are the ticket.

The O*NET analysis found that high-paying occupations such as healthcare and legal services came with higher levels of stress and lower average salaries compared to those in science, technology, and mathematics. Their analysis further identified the following as the least stressful jobs that do not require advanced degrees: Couriers, messengers, street vendors, furniture finishers, models, farm workers, welders, graders and sorters of agricultural products and door-to-door salespeople. The pay scale for these jobs range from the low $30,000s to the mid-$40,000s annually, according to their research.