Most and least stressful jobs of 2013: Top 10 list

Everyone experiences stress at work to some degree, but a new study suggests that's more often the case in certain professions.

CareerCast.com has put together a list of the most stressful and least stressful jobs of 2013. The website created a ranking system that takes into account several work-related factors including travel, environmental conditions, growth potential, income, interaction with the public and general work hazards.

Based on the ranking system, enlisted military personnel have the most stressful work environments. According to the data collected by CareerCast, enlisted military personnel have a “jobs rated stress score” of 84.72. The reason for this ranking has to do with obvious on-job safety risks, but also transitioning into the civilian job force, a relatively uncertain job outlook and a median salary of $41,998 (E-7, eight-plus years experience) .

Not surprisingly, military generals are considered to have the second most stressful job. Despite a median salary of $196,300, the stress of protecting the country and sending young people into harm’s way earns the job a stress rating of 65.54.

The rest of the top five most stressful jobs are firefighter (stress rating 60.45), commercial airline pilot (60.28) and, perhaps surprisingly, public relations executive (48.52).

For every stressful job there is one that is considered not so stressful. According to CareerCast.com, university professors have the least stressful jobs.

“Unlike elementary and secondary educators, the performance of college professors isn't evaluated based on standardized tests,” Kyle Kensing of CareerCast wrote in the article that features the story. “University professors also have the opportunity to earn tenure, which guarantees lifetime employment.”

According to the article, university professors have a jobs rated stress score of just 6.45 and have a median salary of $62,050.

The article did not clearly differentiate between tenured, assistant, visiting and adjunct professors but we can assume the stress-free nature of the job is at least partially determined by that distinction.

Second on the list of least stressful jobs are seamstresses/tailors, who have an average stress score of 6.5 despite a median income of just $25,850. Apparently money can’t buy a stress-free environment.

The rest of the top five stress-free jobs include medical records technician (stress score 7.5), jeweler (8.26) and medical laboratory technician (9.28)

Below is a complete list of the 10 most stressful jobs:

1. Enlisted military personnel
2. Military general
3. Firefighter
4. Commercial airline pilot
5. Public relations executive
6. Senior corporate executive
7. Photojournalist
8. Newspaper reporter
9. Taxi driver
10. Police officer

The top 10 least stressful jobs:

1. University professor
2. Seamstress/tailor
3. Medical records technician
4. Jeweler
5. Medical laboratory technician
6. Audiologist
7. Dietitian
8. Hairstylist
9. Librarian
10. Drill press operator

To read the full article or for more information click here or visit CareerCast.com.