When we think of high-stress jobs, there
are many professions that come to mind. Teachers, police officers,
high-level executives and stock traders are just a few. However, when it
comes to jobs with the highest stress levels and the lowest rates of
pay, it may seem unbelievable that anyone would want to pursue careers
in these jobs that top the list.
Taxi Driver
Setting your own hours, spending all day
cruising the streets, and nothing but freedom. This should be a pretty
low-stress job, right? Wrong. Taxi drivers are often victims of verbal
abuse and crime, and they typically work very long hours. Add to that
the fact that they deal with poor traffic and road conditions on a daily
basis, and you've got the perfect recipe for stress. After all that,
they can only expect to earn about $22,440 per year, according to
CNBC.com.
Military Soldier
Considering the amount of courage and
sacrifice that soldiers are expected to endure through the course of
their careers, it hardly seems fair that the average enlisted military
solider is only earning, according to CNBC.com, about $35,580 per year.
Many of these soldiers are on the front lines in hostile territory and
facing the realities of war. Add to that the fact that many of these men
and women are forced to spend long periods of time away from their
families, and many would find it difficult to believe that anyone would
actually pursue this dangerous and stressful job.
If there's one type of professional we all
want to know will be there when we need them, it's emergency medical
technicians. Society depends on these front-line medical staff to
provide emergency care to those in need and
they do it for only about $27,000 per year,
reports the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. That salary hardly seems
fair considering the amount of stress that comes with this job. EMTs are
required to work shift work, often encounter dangerous situations
themselves and are forced to deal with mortality every day.
Fire FighterRight up there with emergency medical
technicians, society wants to rest assured that firefighters will be
around whenever we need them. However, this job comes with loads of
danger since firefighters are literally expected to run into burning
buildings. With that comes exposure to heat, flames, smoke and toxic
materials that can negatively impact the health of fire fighters. These
people face life and death situations on a daily basis, and CNBC.com
reports, they do it for only about $45,250 per year. Even though society
looks up to these people as heroes, their paychecks don't necessarily
stack up to what one might expect.
Social Worker
Many who are employed in helping
professions would probably agree that they are typically overworked and
undervalued. According to CNNMoney, Social workers earn a median salary
of $43,200 per year. Considering that this isn't all that glamorous a
job, the salary doesn't seem to justify the amount of stress that comes
with it. Many social workers assist families with some of the most
stressful of situations, including family violence, child welfare,
poverty and unemployment. Add to that the fact that many of these
programs suffer for lack of funding, it's no wonder that this job is
filled with stress. Ultimately, those who work in the profession tend to
do it out of a sense of social responsibility and a genuine caring for the welfare of all.
CounselorLike listening in on other people's dramas?
Well, according to CNNMoney, how would you like to do it all day long
for only $32,400 per year? Counselors and therapists help families and
individuals through some of the toughest dilemmas they will ever face:
divorce, loss, anxiety, addictions and stress are only a few of them.
Helping people through these issues is not only stressful, but often
lends emotional strain to the very people who are providing the help to
those in treatment. Add to that the fact that many therapists and
counselors deal with heavy caseloads and lackluster funding and there's
no wonder this job is a tough one. Therapists can hope to earn a
slightly higher salary than counselors at about $44,400 per year, though
this can hardly be considered the big bucks either.
Probation Officer
Would you like to work with dangerous
offenders for the whopping salary of $38,400 per year? Well, that's what
the average probation officer is raking in each year reports CNNMoney.
Though this job comes with its fair share of rewards, there are also a
number of challenges. Despite the fact that probation officers assist
their clients to reintegrate into society through connecting them to
jobs, living accommodations and treatment options, probation officers
are more often faced with disappointment since many former convicts
reoffend. Then there is also the fact that many probation officers are
often the targets of violence or anger from the very people that they
try to help.
News Reporter
If you hate being the "middle man," then
you probably wouldn't enjoy a job as an import/export agent. This is one
job where you literally are at the very center of international deals
to buy and sell goods. Much of the stresses come from the fact that
there are many laws and rules that govern the import and export of
materials across international borders. Add into that the fact that your
income is tied to commissions, and you're bound to feel the pressure to
ensure that your deals flow smoothly. After all is said and done, the
median income for import/export agents is only about $36,700 per year,
according to Monster.com which doesn't seem like much considering all
the red tape that comes with this job.
Hotel Concierge
One of the main reasons why concierge staff
find their jobs stressful comes from the fact that there is typically
no formal job description. Concierge staff work long hours, are required
to do just about anything that's legal, and typically have to work
within tight time frames. This occasionally includes sourcing unusual
things or meeting seemingly impossible requests. Iva de Sousa, now a
recruiting associate with Harcourt Recruiting Specialists, spent nearly
four years as a concierge with some of the top hotel chains before
making a career change. Among some of the strangest requests she
received was being asked to help with planning the transport of a herd
of buffalo. She has also had to
source autographed copies of books that are no longer in print, and
even had custom-tailored clothing made for an extremely tall basketball
player overnight. These seem
like pretty big demands considering that most concierge staff only earn
approximately $32,905 per year, reports cbsalary.com.
The Bottom Line
People pursue careers in various fields for
a number of reasons -- not only because of money. For some it may be
the desire to assist others or to be a voice for social justice. Others
may enjoy the thrill of a challenge, or perhaps those in the military
wish to exhibit their feelings of national pride. Alternatively, some
may be forced into positions that are high stress and pay poorly as a
result of not being able to secure a better job during tough economic
times. Regardless of the reasons,
it's important to fully investigate the pros and cons of any job you pursue.
In some cases the benefits of being able to help others may actually be
a strong enough draw to overlook the sub-par paychecks.
Originally posted on
Investopedia.com
Fire fighters face life and death situations on a daily basis, and they do it for only about $45,250 per year. (©iStockphoto.com/Daniel Bendjy)
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