Best Low Stress Jobs for Work/Life Balance

A well-balanced life includes working, spending time with loved ones and friends, leisure activities and getting plenty of rest. If your job is taking too much time away from things in your life that make you happy, it may be time to consider a new career. In this article, you can learn more about the trends and primary duties of some low-stress jobs.

What are low-stress jobs?

Low-stress jobs are jobs in which people can remain calm and mentally balanced throughout their workday. People who have these types of jobs are more likely to feel less stress at work which helps diminish potential health risks and improves their overall mood.

Try to determine what aspect of your current job is causing you stress to help guide what career to pursue instead. If you work long hours and it takes up too much leisure time, you may look at a career with a more clearly defined workweek. Though a career change may necessitate some additional schooling or training, finding balance may be worth it. 

Here are some low-stress jobs that may help you put some balance back in your life:

  • Librarian
  • Dietitian
  • Technical writer
  • Proofreader
  • Massage therapist
  • Food scientist
  • Audiologist
  • Speech language pathologist
  • Hair stylist
  • Actuary

Librarian

National Average Salary: $56,306

If you are an organized person and you love books and helping others discover new ideas, a librarian could be a good job for you. Librarians provide access to paper and electronic resources and help guide users to the information they need for research. They may also manage other library staff and create programs and activities for the public.

Dietitian

National Average Salary: $30.79 per hour

A dietitian is an expert in the field of dietetics, which is the regulation of diet and nutrition. You may work at a hospital to help recommend food for patients while they recuperate, or in a residential care facility to balance the diets of residents according to their health concerns. Dietitians usually have a bachelor’s degree and internship experience, and some have advanced degrees.

Technical writer

National Average Salary: $20.16 per hour

If you enjoy writing, are detail-oriented and work well independently, technical writing may be the job for you. You may work for a specific company writing dedicated documents or you may work freelance for multiple clients at a time. You need to be able to synthesize facts and information and then present it clearly and concisely for a variety of readers. A freelance technical writer will have deadlines to meet but you can budget your time according to your schedule. 

Proofreader

National Average Salary: $18.96 per hour

A proofreader is also sometimes called a copy editor, and their job is to read through a document ready for publication or presentation to catch errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and typing. Proofreaders are familiar with accepted rules of writing and know the publication’s style guide and expected formatting. It is also a job that can be full-time with a publishing company, for example, or done freelance for multiple clients.

Massage therapist

National Average Salary: $28.14 per hour

A massage therapist works in the field of relaxation and recovery. They aid others in decreasing their own stress by releasing muscle tension and pain through various kinds of massage work. You can work at a spa or as an independent contractor by setting your own hours.

Food scientist

National Average Salary: $75,676

A food scientist analyzes the composition of food to determine its percentage of fat, carbohydrates and protein along with its nutritional makeup using chemistry, engineering and microbiology. They help make food safer by researching the best ways to store, package and distribute food to the public. A bachelor’s degree is usually required, and many food scientists have advanced degrees.

Audiologist

National Average Salary: $82,770

An audiologist is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats hearing loss, balance issues and tinnitus. They use computers and other testing equipment to determine the severity of hearing loss, and help fit people with hearing aids and monitor functionality. Becoming an audiologist requires a bachelor’s degree followed by a four-year advanced doctoral program and licensure.

Speech language pathologist

National Average Salary: $42.99 per hour

Speech language pathologists help others communicate. They help with problems like stuttering, aphasia, difficulty swallowing, and social and cognitive communication. They may work at schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices, or rehabilitation facilities to serve a variety of patients and needs. Becoming a speech language pathologist requires a bachelor’s and a master’s degree to work in this field.

Hair stylist

National Average Salary: $12.33 per hour

A hair stylist is a service professional who cuts and colors hair, along with specialized services such as styling for special occasions like weddings and applying hair extensions. They stay current on fashion trends for hair and give advice to clients who seek their help. If you can stand on your feet all day, enjoy talking with people, and enjoy fashion and styling, a hair stylist may be a good fit. Training for a cosmetology license typically takes 12 to 24 months to complete.

Actuary

National Average Salary: $111,690

An actuary analyzes risk for industries like insurance and finance. Using statistics and strong analytical skills, an actuary makes recommendations to help manage significant risk and reduce potentially negative outcomes. If you are inquisitive, organized, can interpret data and have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, you may be well-suited to be an actuary.

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