The Most Stressful Jobs

September 26, 2023

Ever wonder what some of the most stressful jobs are? Could your job be one of them? Out of the numerous stressful jobs out there, studies now indicate working as enlisted military personnel, firefighter, airline pilot, police officer, or event planner means you are working in a high-stress position. According to one annual report, many of these careers pose risks of physical harm, involve significant responsibility for the welfare of others, and serious public criticism. Also, with many of these careers, end goals are often difficult to see and out of control of the worker.

Enlisted Military Personnel

There is little doubt as to why enlisted military personnel is such high-stress jobs. Their lives are constantly being put into jeopardy for a median annual salary of just 27,936 dollars. Also, for those who might wish to enlist in the future, there is currently zero perspective growth within this field. There is also the added stress factor of having to travel frequently, and being away from one's home and loved ones can cause emotional distress over time, and enlisted personnel often end up in less-than-welcoming climates. There is also a lot of competition against your peers when you serve in the military, so those who do not like competition might find they don't thrive in this position.

Continue to reveal the next high-stress job on this list.

Firefighter

Firefighters do some incredibly important work. Not only are they trained to fight fires, but they are often the first respondents to all sorts of accidents. However, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common since they have to deal with some truly horrific events and it is difficult to process the image and smell of charred remains or a child who has been involved in a fatal automobile accident. Additionally, they often have to cope with working long shifts, being deprived of sleep, not being adequately trained for all situations, and risking their health with exposure to carcinogens that get released during fires. There is also the fear of failure that drives them to try to save every single life, and any loss can be a traumatic one.

Keep going to learn more about the most stressful jobs out there.

Airline Pilot

Airline pilots are responsible for dozens of lives at any given time while they are on the clock. Each passenger is precious cargo. Keeping passengers safe is the main job while in the air, but on the ground, pilots still have a lot of responsibilities. Their working hours are highly irregular, and they are prone to experiencing fatigue and jet lag, making themselves more vulnerable to various illnesses. While pilots do undergo extensive training that teaches them how to deal with these various stress factors, they can still be problematic when the pressure gets to be too much to cope with at one time.

Keep reading for more information on high-stress jobs.

Police Officer

Police officers face dangers on a daily basis. Each situation that they get called into could go many different ways, and some of those ways have a high risk of harm to themselves or others. Law enforcement officials tend to deal with build-ups of stress over time, work very irregular schedules, experience sleep deprivation, and have to deal with the fact they cannot solve every issue going on within their communities. They also have to deal with the pitfalls of the criminal justice practices and work to combat negative perceptions of law enforcement officials depicted in the media.

The next stressful job is a big one. Keep reading to learn about it now.

Event Planner

One might not think being an event planner is a stressful job, but this line of work comes with many stress factors. As a planner, you are expected to be able to multi-task. Planners have to effectively communicate and plan with clients, venues, entertainers, as well as their own co-workers and assistants. Any lapse in communication could cause serious issues while planning an event. Pressures can mount and cause tension between planners and the individuals they work with, so it is crucial for planners to have excellent people skills and calm demeanors. Of course, it is hard to be calm all the time. Also, planners constantly have to find creative ways to market their events and brand themselves. Planners tend to abide by an attitude of making things work and often find themselves going the extra mile to please clients.

MORE FROM HealthPrep