Is it possible to make decent money in a low-stress job? Do low-stress jobs even exist?
If you’re looking to reduce stress next year, a job change might be on your mind. Resume Genius recently released a report that examined the top jobs deemed “low-stress” yet still “high-paying” for 2025. The resume company used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and career site O*NET Online to compile its “2025 Low-Stress, High-Paying Jobs” report.
“Heading into 2025, prioritizing mental health in the workplace is essential for job seekers to feel more at ease,” said Eva Chan, a career expert at Resume Genius. “With remote work and hybrid setups becoming the norm, work-life boundaries are increasingly blurred. Our report on low-stress, high-paying jobs shows you don’t have to sacrifice a competitive salary to achieve a healthier work-life balance. With the right role, it’s possible to thrive both financially and mentally.”
It’s important to note that all of the top 10 require at least a Bachelor’s degree, and school is not stress-free. Plus, people who actually work in these jobs might disagree about how stressful their jobs are (and how much they get paid).
To create the report, researchers filtered out high-stress jobs using O*NET’s “stress tolerance” database and then cross-referenced job titles using BLS’s Occupational Outlook Handbook data with at least the national median salary of $48,060 and demonstrated “faster-than-average growth.”
Here’s the list, according to the data:
1. Water resource specialist
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Median annual salary: $157,740
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Number of jobs (2023): 86,300
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 8%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
2. Astronomer
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Median annual salary: $149,530
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Number of jobs (2023): 23,500
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 7%
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Degree needed: Doctoral or professional degree
3. Actuary
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Median annual salary: $120,000
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Number of jobs (2023): 30,200
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 23%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
4. Environmental economist
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Median annual salary: $115,730
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Number of jobs (2023): 17,500
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
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Degree needed: Master’s degree
5. Mathematician
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Median annual salary: $104,860
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Number of jobs (2023): 34,800
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 11%
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Degree needed: Master’s degree
6. Computer systems analyst
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Median annual salary: $103,800
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Number of jobs (2023): 527,200
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 11%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
7. Fuel cell engineer
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Median annual salary: $99,510
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Number of jobs (2023): 291,900
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 11%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
8. Remote sensing scientist and technologist
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Median annual salary: $92,580
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Number of jobs (2023): 26,000
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
9. Geographer
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Median annual salary: $90,880
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Number of jobs (2023): 1600
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 3%
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Degree needed: Bachelor’s degree
10. Transportation planner
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Number of jobs (2023): 45,200
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Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 4%
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Degree needed: Master’s degree
Read the full report and see five more “low-stress” jobs, here.
