5 Low-Stress Jobs With 6-Figure Salaries That Could Be Yours in 2024 They don't all require advanced degrees either.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- Workplace stress is on the rise — and affecting employees' relationships with family and friends.
- But there are several jobs that offer competitive pay and low-stress work environments in 2024.
In 2022, 81% of workers reported that workplace stress affects their mental health — up from 78% of respondents in 2021, impacting their relationships with family, friends and co-workers, per Mental Health America.
But it's 2024, and the job market is brimming with opportunities that don't require you to sacrifice your mental well-being for a substantial paycheck.
Related: The 9 Highest-Paying Jobs for Millennials
USA Today Blueprint's latest exploration into the U.S. Department of Labor's database reveals the optimal careers that promise significant financial gain — without the stress.
The researchers analyzed jobs with median annual wages of $100,000 or more and low stress tolerance scores as defined by the labor department's Occupational Information Network O*NET, which ranks stress tolerance on a scale of 0 to 100.
Related: The 30 Best High-Paying Jobs of the Future
Here are five low-stress jobs that pay six figures in 2024, according to the data:
1. Remote sensing scientists and technologists
These individuals make their mark in various sectors by utilizing advanced remote-sensing technologies to extract and analyze data. They're also paving the way for enhanced urban planning, national security and natural resource management. Their work, requiring at least a master's degree, offers a median wage of $107,970 with a reasonably low stress tolerance score of 52 on O*NET's scale.
2. Environmental economists
These professionals delve into crucial environmental matters, striving to uncover the effects of economic actions on our planet. Those passionate about sustainability can thrive in this domain, securing a median wage of $113,940 and equally sharing a stress tolerance score of 52. Most of the roles in this category require at least some graduate education.
3. Mathematicians
Forget the often-held belief that advanced mathematics holds little real-world value. In truth, mathematicians are banking more than $100,000 annually by solving tangible problems in diverse industries, from business to engineering, all at a low stress tolerance score of 56. Advanced degrees often gate these lucrative roles.
4. Water resource specialists
They're at the forefront of influencing global water initiatives, striving for conservation, purity and regulatory conformance. Notably, one of the few low-stress, high-salary careers that don't necessitate post-graduate education, these specialists collect an impressive $144,440 median annual wage with a stress tolerance score of 59.
5. Systems engineers
Integral in the burgeoning alternative energy domain, these professionals design solar solutions tailored for various applications. With 73% confirming only a bachelor's degree requirement and a median wage of $104,600, these specialists enjoy a stress tolerance score of 61.
