High-paying Low-stress Flexible Jobs that You Can Do From Home

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Table of contents

What Makes a Job Low-stress?
11 High-paying Jobs That Are Flexible and Low-stress
How to Optimize Your Resume for a High-paying Low-stress Job

Do you find yourself saying that you work well under stress or feel more productive when the pressure is on? But, at the end of the day do you still feel upbeat or do you find yourself drained? If you are feeling exhausted, check out the high-paying jobs listed below for people who want less stress and more work flexibility.

This list of jobs was created using the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the average pay for each role. The roles we've highlighted below are all high-paying, but they stand out from other high-paying roles because of the flexibility and balance that they offer.

The FlexJobs database helped us to determine which roles provide the best balance between pay and flexibility.

What Makes a Job Low-stress?

It's easy to tell whether a job pays well at a glance because numbers are unambiguous. But is every job worth what it pays? We know instinctively that while $70,000 is above the average salary for a worker in the United States, it isn't a great salary for a brain surgeon. That's because certain kinds of work involve a greater investment to enter the field and a greater level of stress.

But what about those special roles where the pay is high and the stress is low? The truth is that these roles depend on your personal aptitudes and priorities. For a worker who manages their time well, a remote role can be a dream come true, but for a worker who isn't as self-motivated, something that seems like a perk could actually add to their stress. And even in roles that should be low-stress on paper due to flexibility or benefits, a culture mismatch can still create a stressful working environment.

The roles that we've included on this list are being treated as "low-stress" because they offer flexibility. This is a good place to start your search if you're looking for a high-paying low-stress role. But the best way to manage your stress level at work is to choose a field that suits your strengths and ensure that the work you do comes naturally to you.

11 High-paying Jobs That Are Flexible and Low-stress

Computer Hardware Engineers

Computer hardware engineers typically have a bachelor's degree and can make a six-figure salary of $138,080 on average by performing a range of research, design, development, and testing activities. More specifically, computer hardware engineers work with computers and related equipment that are used for military and industrial needs, as well as in the commercial and science fields. A computer hardware engineer's work can be performed remotely in many cases, giving candidates many flexible options for this role.

Check out these high-paying computer hardware engineer jobs.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Using a bachelor's degree, computer and information systems managers support organizations by determining technology goals and then implementing appropriate systems. These professionals have an average annual salary of $169,510 and open roles for computer and information systems managers are projected to grow by 17% in the next decade, providing professionals in this industry with job security; a valuable resource in a volatile economy.

Check out these high-paying computer and information systems manager jobs.

Physicists

Usually found in the research field, physicists are typically in possession of a PhD. While pursuing a PhD may be labor intensive and stressful, these professionals have lower stress levels and can have an average annual salary of $149,530. Physicists are responsible for researching physical phenomena to develop theories that are ultimately applied to existing theories and scientific laws.

Check out these listings for flexible physicist jobs.

Optometrists

Optometrists have the freedom to make their own schedules. The average pay for an optometrist is as high as $131,860. In addition to a bachelor's degree, these professionals need a state license and should be a graduate of a four-year doctor of optometry program. Operating an optometry practice can come with unexpected challenges and stressors, but optometry is a relatively flexible branch of the healthcare field.

Check out these listings for flexible optometrist jobs.

Actuaries

If financial risk and uncertainty are of interest to you, then a six-figure job—$120,000 on average—as an actuary may fit the bill. Needing a bachelor's degree, as well as a professional certification, actuaries need to have solid knowledge of business, finance, and mathematics, but for people who enjoy these subjects, an actuary's career is relatively low-stress.

Take a look at these remote actuary jobs.

Political Scientists

Another career with an annual six-figure salary is in political science, averaging $132,350. In addition to researching the development and origin of political systems, they analyze political trends, structures, and overall political operations. Many of these professionals have a master's degree in public administration or political science.

Take a look at these flexible political science jobs.

Economists

Focusing on the production and distribution of services, goods, and resources, economists provide guidance on the supply and demand of local, national, and global economic activities. A bachelor's degree is needed, and this profession has an average annual salary of over $115,730.

Take a look at these high-paying remote economist jobs.

Art Director

A career as an art director straddles the line between art and business. An art director often marries marketing skills, knowledge of digital arts, and a graphic design background. Art directors support the visual appeal of images and overall style for publications, products, and media productions, and they earn, on average, $106,500.

Check out these flexible art director jobs that pay well.

Applications Software Developers

Those interested in software development should have excellent computer programming skills and a bachelor's degree. These jobs pull in around $130,160 annually on average. Duties include developing and creating computer applications or utility programs, as well as updating and modifying existing applications or programs. Software development and similar tech roles are often at the forefront or remote work conversations, as these roles can often be performed completely remotely or with limited in-office hours using a hybrid model.

Take a look at these high-paying and flexible software developer jobs.

Statisticians

Statisticians are generally required to have a graduate degree. In this career, professionals can make an average salary around $104,860 a year and enjoy relatively low stress due to the flexibility of their work. Statisticians' duties include collecting and analyzing data based on statistical methods. This is done to help solve a number of real-world problems in various fields.

Take a look at these remote statistician jobs.

Food Scientists

With an average salary of $76,400 annually, food scientists work to ensure the safety of food and food production programs and processes. These professionals require, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree. A food scientist's role often requires field and laboratory work and is a great choice for the science-minded professional who doesn't wish to spend 100% of their career at a desk.

Take a look at these flexible food scientist jobs.

How to Optimize Your Resume for a High-paying Low-stress Job

Whether you define "low-stress" work as remote work, hybrid work, flexible scheduling, strong benefits, or simply work that comes naturally to you, to land a low-stress job you need to write a resume that captures attention.

High-paying roles are desirable and often create a competitive space for job applicants. For roles with perks like flexibility or benefits, this is even more true. So you'll need to build a unique resume that targets the specific role and stands out from other applicants.

Do this by:

Using keywords on your resume to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) screening and show how well your experience matches the position. Read the job description closely to determine which keywords to focus on.
Choosing a resume format that suits your career level and strengths. Seasoned professionals are best suited to the chronological resume format which focuses on showcasing experience, but if you're a newcomer to your field or the workforce, the more skills-focused functional format or the balanced combination resume format may work better for you.
Writing a resume featuring non-traditional resume sections as needed. There is no reason to forcibly limit yourself to experience, skills, and education. Your resume can dive into your volunteer work or explore your relevant hobbies. It's up to you to decide what's relevant and what belongs on your resume.
Leading with your work values. Nothing ruins a potentially low-stress role like a company culture that goes against your values. Be open about what matters to you throughout the job search and look for ways to showcase your values in order to attract attention from roles that match them. Remember, a culture mismatch is a problem for the employer too, so matching their values will help you stand out.
Building your networking skills and connecting with industry professionals for referrals and resume advice.
Viewing resume examples from professionals in your industry to get a sense for how a resume should look and what specific qualifications employers are expecting to see in your field.
Maintaining a strong balance between hard and soft skills on your resume. While hard skills represent your technical capabilities and knowledge, a truly effective resume demonstrates well-roundedness by showcasing soft skills that are difficult to formally measure or teach.
Focusing on outcomes and achievements in your experience section using numbers and active language to convey what you bring to the table.
Trying out our AI Resume Builder to create a polished resume in just a few minutes using AI content suggestions and stylish professional templates.