10 Stress-Busting Jobs With Big Paychecks

By

Andreas Jones

Hey! I’m Andreas Jones and I am the founder of KindaFrugal.com. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and lifestyle businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur On Fire, Lifehack.org, Influencive and Goalcast.

| Published on September 2, 2024

Veterinarian examining maine coon with stethoscope in clinic

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Stress isn’t worth a good paycheck. Negative feelings, like stress, don’t just affect your mind but also your body. Some jobs are more stressful than others.

Unsurprisingly, most of these stress-busting jobs are in the medical field. Can you blame healthcare professionals? It can’t be easy to have the lives of many people in your hands every day.

For these jobs, I searched the internet and drew inspiration from resources like U.S. News, Forbes, and Business Insider. Are you in any of these professions?

1. Veterinarian

Shot of a young handsome bearded professional vet smiling joyfully working at his office petting beautiful ginger cat after medical examination copyspace doctor medicine profession comfort relax
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Like most little kids, I once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Who wouldn’t want to dedicate their lives to helping animals in need?

However, there are a lot of downsides to this high-paying, stressful job. First, veterinarians hold a lot of debt. The average student loan debt for veterinary graduates in 2022 was $147,258. Even their day-to-day tasks are stressful. Veterinarians have to tell pet owners bad news and sometimes even deny treatment because of a lack of funds.

2. Dentist

dentist
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Dentists also make a lot of money but constantly handle stress. According to Indeed, the average dentist in the U.S. makes about $228,453 a year. But is it worth it?

From research, I found that dentists face a lot of problems with time management and work-life balance. They feel guilty taking days off but the long hours affect their relationships with family and friends.

3. Oil Rig Worker

Oil Rig Worker
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Oil rig jobs are dangerous, but they are important. Some of the dangers and stresses that come with working on an oil rig are extreme weather conditions, hazardous chemical exposure, and heavy equipment malfunctions.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average oil rig worker in the U.S. makes about $27 an hour, although the highest earnings cap is around $45. Although oil rig workers are paid decently, they should earn more.

4. Electrician

Electrician working
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Being an electrician is not easy. This lucrative job comes with a lot of risks. One small slip can cause serious injuries and even claim a life.

My husband used to study electricity and HVAC. He and his classmates were constantly warned of the dangers in this field. So, how much can you make as an electrician? While it varies by state and even sometimes city, the average electrician in the U.S. earns $64,314 a year.

5. Surgeon

Surgeon
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I can’t imagine being a surgeon. As a surgeon, you have the lives of others in your hands. One small mistake in surgery can permanently hurt someone or cause them to lose their life.

Even when surgeons do everything they can, not everyone makes it. This stress is unimaginable. Although surgeons make a lot of money ($277,322), stress takes a toll quickly.

6. Nurse

Healthcare is a tough field. Another stress-busting career in the healthcare industry is nursing. You have to give it to the nurses. Sometimes, they even know more than doctors. They don’t just provide care but also companionship.

I have a lot of respect for nurses. They jump into terrifying situations and put their personal feelings aside to help others.

7. Funeral Manager

Funeral Homes
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Can you imagine being a funeral director? This is not a job for the week. Every day they are at work, they encounter grief-stricken people just trying to say goodbye to their loved ones.

It’s a very emotionally draining job. The pay for this job varies a lot but is often over $25 an hour.

8. Truck Driver

Truck Driver
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Without truck drivers, our resources would be limited. Truck drivers are on the road for hours, and sometimes even days, getting deliveries from place to place. Truck drivers don’t just handle Amazon and gift packages though, they also transport medications, medical equipment, food, and more.

Truck drivers have to stay cautious and awake on the road despite their long hours. According to Indeed, U.S. truck drivers make an average of $101,256 a year.

9. Airline Pilot

Airline Pilot
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Pilots also work stressful jobs. While it’s safer to ride an airplane than a car, that doesn’t mean it isn’t any less terrifying. The same goes for pilots. Even the most successful and experienced pilots get nervous with strange weather.

So, how much do pilots make? Pilots make around $103,910 annually.

10. Coal Miner

Coal Miner
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Coal mining didn’t disappear. While the industry is long gone from its peak, there are still plenty of high-paying jobs out there.

Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Explosions and cave-ins can trap dozens, if not hundreds, of coal miners underground. The average coal miner in the U.S. earns $82,058 a year. If you ask me, they deserve a lot more.

15 Highest Paying Jobs That Nobody Wants

Group of happy Blue-Collar workers
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Truthfully, almost all of the best high-paying jobs that no one wants to work, are blue-collar jobs. Working in the trades can sound intimidating, but it comes with great benefits, high pay, and job security.

Despite the pros, not a lot of people turn to the trades. If you’re feeling stuck, you may want to consider one of these high-paying jobs.

To curate this list, we chose jobs where you could earn at least $25 an hour. These jobs are also high in demand. To find out how in demand, we used Indeed and ZipRecruiter.

Here are 15 high-paying jobs that nobody wants.

16 Effective Techniques for Managing Work Stress

Woman working in laptop stressed
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United States workers are experiencing record levels of workplace stress, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS) outlines the impact on workers’ wellness in a recent ComPsych survey. The outlook isn’t good — 62% of workers cited tensions due to a lack of autonomy or extreme tiredness. Moreover, work priorities are taking over citizens’ lives, with the sources of anxiety stemming from workload, coworkers, and performance improvements.

15 Surprising “Weaknesses” Employers Want to Hear About in Job Interviews

Man interviewing
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Interviewers are tired of hearing the same responses over and over again. They want to hear something original. Employers also want to know legitimate ways that candidates can improve their work. Sometimes, shedding some light on an improvable weakness or two can make all the difference.

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