13 Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Surprisingly Well

Want a job that earns a decent living but don't want all the stress that comes with it? Then one of these 13 relatively stress-free career options might be right for you!

Sociologist

Sociologists work in a wide range of capacities to analyze human trends to ultimately improve social welfare. Many sociologists are employed by universities and academic institutions, meaning the work can be low-stress. A lot of time is devoted to research, which many academic types find soothing. Overall, though, the fact that sociologists work with an overall aim to help others means that stress in the job is likely pretty low. The median salary for a sociologist is $58,000 a year, according to stateuniversity.com.

Tour Escort

Tour escorts take groups on vacations around local attractions and helps plan and lead travel excursions. If you’re an outdoorsy person who enjoys meeting new people and seeing new places, this could be the job for you! This is a lot more than just working a gift shop, too. According to Job Monkey, tour escorts can make up to $60,000 a year.

Freelance Writer

This one might have people scoffing, but freelance writers can actually make a lot of money, depending on their quality of work and ability to maintain a self-set schedule. However, most freelance writers are passionate about their work and enjoy working from home and being flexible. Because of this, the job is low in stress and (depending on the writer) fairly high in income.

Occupational Therapist

Positive work environments and regular hours for occupational therapists results in low stress levels for people in this field. These therapists assist people in both living and working environments using methodology that can change on a client to client basis. This “making a difference” attitude also pays well for occupational therapists, as the average range for salaries is between $61,000 and $84,000 a year (according to salary.com).

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers are highly respected professionals who design infrastructures from the comfort of their offices. Engineers report high levels of overall job satisfaction, meaning that levels of stress for individuals in the field are reasonably low. They also make high salaries, with Indeed.com reporting an average salary of $90,000 a year.

Building Inspector

If you like making sure building structures are up to code and running smoothly, consider building inspection as a career. The job is low in stress due to the fact that you often work alone while balancing time in an office and time out in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median wage of building inspectors is around $50,000.

Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists work in many capacities, but their love for the Earth and all of nature’s creations provides a certain peacefulness to the position. Working in nature is known to be an effective stress-reliever, and the College Board reports that people who do environmental science work can make around $65,000 a year. All the fresh air is just a bonus!

Speech Pathologist

Most speech pathologists enter the profession because they care about helping others, which means the level of stress experienced by these professionals is on the low side. The typical one-on-one settings like schools and health clinics also provide a level of comfort to the position. According to About.com, the median salary for speech pathologists is a healthy $57,000.

College Professor

Many college professors enjoy the schedule of a college campus: class only a few days a week, assistants who will grade assignments and the freedom to create your own curriculum. How much you make will always vary depending on the college you teach at, but Money Magazine reports that 3 out of 4 college professors make more than $61,000 a year.

Power Plant Operator

Operators of power plants experience a lot of autonomy in their job, and while they are responsible for large areas of equipment and employees, the safety systems in place at many plants means that stress on the job can be somewhat reduced. Not only that, but according to PayScale.com, operators can make anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000 a year.

Natural Science Manager

Most natural science managers are passionate about their career choice and hardly ever deal with irate subordinates, meaning that the job is likely low-stress. These managers oversee other scientists and coordinate with them on their research activities. They have good paydays, too, with StateUniversity.com reporting an average salary of around $89,000.

Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is a growing trend, and although the hokey TV commercials might cause you to think otherwise, there are a lot of strong career possibilities for therapists. Obviously, the work environment is relaxing and stress free, with many therapists creating their own hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapists make an average of between $40,000 and $50,000 a year.

Chiropractor

A recent CareerCast survey put the position of chiropractor as one of the least stressful jobs in America. Many chiropractors experience a relaxed working life, despite working more than 8 hours a day on average. It pays off, too: the average income for this career path is close to $70,000.