Do you crack under pressure? Crumble when you're stressed? If so, you'd be better off pursuing a career in science or education than you would in healthcare or law enforcement.
Using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on jobs, we found the 29 professions you should avoid if you really don't like stress.
O*NET assigns a "stress tolerance" score (0-100) — which measures how frequently workers must accept criticism and deal effectively with high stress on the job — for each of the almost 900 jobs in its database. A lower rating signals less stress; a higher rating signals more.
Here are jobs that earned a stress tolerance rating of 94 or higher. If you're the type of person who thrives under pressure or can stay cool, calm, and collected in high-stress situations, these jobs may be perfect for you.
If you're the crack-or-crumble type, you may want to avoid them.
1. Urologists
Stress tolerance: 100
Average annual salary (2014): $189,760*
*Urologists are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Other Physicians and Surgeons."
2. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers
Stress tolerance: 99
Average annual salary (2014): $39,410
3. Anesthesiologist assistants
Stress tolerance: 98
Average annual salary (2014): $97,280*
*Anesthesiologist assistants are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Physician Assistants."
4. Nurse anesthetists
Stress tolerance: 98
Average annual salary (2014): $158,900
5. Telephone operators
Stress tolerance: 98
Average annual salary (2014): $39,350
6. Acute care nurses
Stress tolerance: 97
Average annual salary (2014): $69,790*
*Acute care nurses are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Registered Nurses."
7. Dancers
Stress tolerance: 97
Average annual salary (2014): $43,020*
*This is the salary for "Dancers and Choreographers."
8. Obstetricians and gynecologists
Stress tolerance: 97
Average annual salary (2014): $214,750
9. Surgeons
Stress tolerance: 96
Average annual salary (2014): $240,440
10. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $131,760
11. Broadcast-news analysts
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $84,380
12. Clinical care nurses
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $69,790*
*Clinical care nurses are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Registered Nurses."
13. Healthcare social workers
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $53,590
14. Phlebotomists
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $31,890
15. Police detectives
Stress tolerance: 95
Average annual salary (2014): $80,540
16. Advanced practice psychiatric nurses
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $69,790*
*Advanced practice psychiatric nurses are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Registered Nurses."
17. Art therapists
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $59,190*
*Art therapists are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "All Other Therapists."
18. Chief executives
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $180,700
19. Costume attendants
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $50,270
20. Education administrators (preschool and childcare center/program)
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $52,190
21. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $84,260
22. Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $29,410
23. General internist
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $190,530
24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $43,420
25. Mental-health counselors
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $43,990
26. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $219,600
27. Patient representatives
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $28,820*
*Patient representatives are not listed on the BLS. This is the salary for "Healthcare Support Occupations."
28. Ship pilots
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $79,180
29. Probation officers and correctional-treatment specialists
Stress tolerance: 94
Average annual salary (2014): $53,360
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