Everyone experiences stress at work from time to time, but not all jobs are created equal. Certain professions outweigh others in terms of day-to-day anxiety, the number of duties and the time frame in which work must be completed. These careers can be demanding, but for those who would prefer a more leisurely day at work, there are many jobs notable for their relative lack of stress. Here IMT looks at some of the most and least stressful jobs in the U.S., as well as ways to cope with work stress in whatever form it presents itself.

With the current national unemployment rate hovering at 9.9 percent and the job market struggling to recover from the economic downturn, many people are working harder for less pay and remain concerned over keeping their positions. This makes fighting on-the-job stress an increasing priority in today’s employment landscape.

Although nearly every profession carries its share of stressful conditions, some jobs may be particularly trying on an employee’s mental and physical abilities, while others hardly raise one’s pulse. There are also some interesting distinctions between highly stressful and non-stressful professions, including compensation rates, hours worked, unemployment levels and general competitiveness.

Employment research firm CareerCast.com recently compiled its list of the 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2010, with a focus on the “three ‘Mega Factors’ that have the largest impact on office anxiety: work environment, job competitiveness and risk.” Here are the top 5 most stressful job entries, in descending order of stress, along with some details about what these workers face:

1. Firefighter — Average of 11 hours worked per day; very high time pressure; and low competition. Firefighters frequently work unusual hours and risk physical harm on a regular basis.
2. Senior Corporate Executive — Average of 11 hours worked per day; high time pressure; and high competition. Senior executives are expected to excel in a wide range of fields at once and face daily pressure to make decisions that affect employees and profits.
3. Taxi Driver — Average of 9.5 hours worked per day; moderate time pressure; and moderate competition. Taxi drivers often work erratic hours, can face dangerous traffic conditions and are confined to their vehicles for most of the work day.
4. Surgeon — Average of 11 hours worked per day; moderate time pressure; and high competition. Surgeons may work at odd hours; must exercise extreme precision and attention to detail for protracted lengths of time and face life-or-death decisions.
5. Police Officer — Average of 9.5 hours worked per day; moderate time pressure; and low competition. Police work shifts can be long and strenuous, often requiring physical and emotional exertions in emergency situations.

The remaining five jobs on the most stressful list are: commercial pilot; highway patrol officer; public relations officer; advertising account executive; and real estate agent.

These professions can be demanding, but for those who would prefer a more leisurely day at work, there are many jobs notable for their relative lack of stress. Naturally, no job is entirely free of anxieties, but the selections in CareerCast.com’s list of the 10 Least Stressful Jobs of 2010 are unlikely to induce much strain:

1. Musical Instrument Repairer — Maintains and repairs band and orchestral instruments.
2. Medical Records Technician — Maintains accurate records for use in medical treatment, billing and statistical surveys.
3. Actuary — Determines probabilities of accidents, sickness, death or loss of property.
4. Forklift Operator — Operates industrial trucks and tractors to move products.
5. Appliance Repairer — Performs maintenance on a variety of electrical appliances.

The remaining five jobs on the least stressful list are: medical secretary; librarian; bookkeeper; piano tuner; and janitor.

“These rankings present a stark choice between jobs with low stress, and ones with high incomes and the opportunity for growth. However, for many job seekers, an ideal career may in fact lie somewhere in between these extremes,” CareerCast.com notes.

Though some jobs are less saddled with stress than others, everyone has to manage and learn to cope with a variety of workplace difficulties in order to avoid burning out on the job.

Whether you’re a corporate executive or a forklift operator, the following tips can help relieve some of the common workplace pressures:

• Identify the origin of the stress. Is it the deadlines? Unnecessary meetings? Balance between work and household responsibilities? Pinpointing the source of your stress is the first step in combating it.
• Develop a routine. Practicing a quick, relaxing ritual, such as listening to a favorite song or going for a walk, can help overcome certain day-to-day irritations.
• Recognize what you can and cannot change. Some jobs are inherently stressful. But if you make yourself crazy with the little things like, say, dealing with rush hour, simply leave slightly later or earlier and save yourself the grief.
• Learn time management techniques. If you write down your tasks somewhere, you don’t have the stress of keeping it and dozens of other tasks in your brain. A “to-do” list with prioritized duties allows you to hone in on the most urgent tasks.
• Think positively. Convincing yourself that you miss more than you hit or that today’s going to be the worst day since yesterday only causes internal stress and again sets you up for failure.
• Gain perspective. Try to put some distance between yourself and a problem by imagining what it will look like a year from now. It might seem minor in the long run.

“Of course, while high levels of stress are known to have an adverse effect on health and well-being, it’s also true that worrying is a fundamental human condition,” CareerCast.com explains. “Perhaps we will always have to endure at least a moderate level of anxiety, no matter how many books we read or relaxation techniques we try.”

Related

Manage Workplace Stress in a Downturn

How to Cope with Stress

Top 10 Workplace Stresses and Irritations

Fighting Job Burnout

Overworked or Burned Out?

Tips for Stressed Small-Biz Owners

Resources

The 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2010
CareerCast.com, 2010

The 10 Least Stressful jobs of 2010
CareerCast.com, 2010