33 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress

Square Roots farmers

There are many jobs that are both well-paid and offer a relaxing work environment.
Using data from the Department of Labor, we found 33 jobs with annual salaries over $75,000 that also offer a relatively low-stress work situation.
Highly ranked low-stress well-paying jobs include material scientists, mathematicians, and geographers.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Intense, high-stress jobs where you might face a lot of pressure aren't right for everyone.

Fortunately, for those who would like to work under more relaxing conditions, there are plenty of high-paying jobs that also tend to offer low-stress work environments.

The Department of Labor's O*NET Online occupational database includes survey-based measurements of how important various skills, activities, and personal traits are for a particular job. One of the characteristics measured is stress tolerance, which O*NET describes as jobs requiring "accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations."

O*NET scores job characteristics like stress tolerance on a scale from 0 to 100, where a 0 means stress tolerance is not at all necessary for an occupation, and 100 suggests a job with a very high-stress environment.

We ranked occupational groups from most to least stressful using O*NET's stress tolerance score, with lower scores indicating less stressful jobs. Since we are interested in high-paying jobs, we looked at occupations with average annual salaries of at least $75,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics data for May 2018, the most recently available release.

Several of the jobs fell in academia, with postsecondary teachers in various fields and researchers in economics, statistics, mathematics, and materials science dominating the top of the list.

Here are 33 high-paying low-stress jobs, ranked from most to least stressful, and by average annual wages in the event of a tied stress tolerance score:

33. Nuclear engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 70

Average annual salary: $110,790

What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

32. Actuaries

Importance of stress tolerance: 70

Average annual salary: $116,250

What they do, according to O*NET: Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

31. Optometrists

Importance of stress tolerance: 70

Average annual salary: $119,980

What they do, according to O*NET: Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

30. Technical writers

Importance of stress tolerance: 69

Average annual salary: $75,500

What they do, according to O*NET: Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

29. Environmental scientists and specialists

Importance of stress tolerance: 69

Average annual salary: $77,580

What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research or perform investigations for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population.

28. Environmental engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 69

Average annual salary: $92,640

What they do, according to O*NET: Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines.

27. Art directors

Importance of stress tolerance: 69

Average annual salary: $104,590

What they do, according to O*NET: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising.

26. Ship engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 68

Average annual salary: $75,710

What they do, according to O*NET: Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ships.

25. Postsecondary philosophy and religion teachers

Importance of stress tolerance: 68

Average annual salary: $82,420

What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

24. Postsecondary mathematical science teachers

Importance of stress tolerance: 68

Average annual salary: $87,140

What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations.

23. Biochemists and biophysicists

Importance of stress tolerance: 67

Average annual salary: $105,940

What they do, according to O*NET: Study the chemical composition or physical principles of living cells and organisms.

22. Computer hardware engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 67

Average annual salary: $117,840

What they do, according to O*NET: Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment.

21. Orthodontists

Importance of stress tolerance: 67

Average annual salary: $225,760

What they do, according to O*NET: Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.

20. Agricultural engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 67

Average annual salary: $79,090

What they do, according to O*NET: Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems.

19. Computer and information research scientists

Importance of stress tolerance: 66

Average annual salary: $123,850

What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

18. Postsecondary geography teachers

Importance of stress tolerance: 65

Average annual salary: $88,950

What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in geography.

17. Epidemiologists

Importance of stress tolerance: 64

Average annual salary: $75,690

What they do, according to O*NET: Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes.

16. Statisticians

Importance of stress tolerance: 64

Average annual salary: $92,600

What they do, according to O*NET: Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information.

15. Economists

Importance of stress tolerance: 64

Average annual salary: $116,020

What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy.

14. Biomedical engineers

Importance of stress tolerance: 63

Average annual salary: $95,090

What they do, according to O*NET: Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological and health systems and products.

13. Geoscientists

Importance of stress tolerance: 63

Average annual salary: $107,800

What they do, according to O*NET: Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth.

12. Postsecondary economics teachers

Importance of stress tolerance: 63

Average annual salary: $117,180

What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in economics.

11. Hydrologists

Importance of stress tolerance: 62

Average annual salary: $82,790

What they do, according to O*NET: Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters.

10. Astronomers

Importance of stress tolerance: 62

Average annual salary: $111,090

What they do, according to O*NET: Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.