10 of the most stressful jobs in the UK (and their salaries)

Every job has its stressors. Whether it’s dealing with deadlines or targets, there are lots of factors that can trigger stress. But some jobs definitely take stress to a new level. In fact, 33% of employees reported moderate-to-high or high levels of stress in their job. 

But which jobs are the main culprits? Let’s take a look at some of the most stressful jobs in the UK.

What are the most stressful jobs in the UK?

Customer service – £19,500 average annual salary

Some customer service jobs come with a whole lotta stress. That’s because there can be lots of pressure to quickly deal with high numbers of calls. Workers also have the added stress of dealing with unhappy customers. Industries like telecommunications and energy providers are renowned for having unhappy customers.

Chef – £27,000 average annual salary

Being a chef isn’t all pretty plates and yummy food. Restaurant kitchens are actually high pressure places. When the restaurant gets busy, the heat falls straight onto the chef. And that’s why chefs have a rep for being hot-headed. They have to focus, keep standards high AND manage a team of people. It’s not easy!

Teacher – £37,500 average annual salary

Being a teacher is no walk in the park. Teachers have to manage large classes of students. They also have to keep high grades in their classes. Teachers also have a heavy workload that often eats into their free time.

Events manager – £33,781 ​​average annual salary

Event planners have to spin many plates at the same time. It’s their job to organise lavish events with lots of moving parts. And guess what? A lot can and will go wrong in the process. Event planning is not a breeze. It can be a living nightmare!

Recruitment consultant – £27,000 average annual salary

Recruitment is one of the most stressful industries in the UK. It’s a sales job that also has lots of moving parts. Recruiters have high targets they need to hit. And it’s very rarely smooth sailing. But at the same time, the commission you earn could make it all worthwhile!

PR manager – £42,500 average annual salary

PR consultants are responsible for the image of companies and public figures. But sometimes, bad press is unavoidable. It’s during these times that PR consultants need to work twice as hard to correct any bad images.

Healthcare worker – £24,449 average annual salary for a carer

Healthcare workers in the UK are under a lot of pressure. They deal with vulnerable people in life-threatening situations. And they’re also understaffed. This makes it hard for them to do their job properly. 

Lawyer – £52,875 average annual salary

It takes a strong stomach to be a lawyer. Not only do they work round the clock for their clients, but other people’s lives are in their hands. Lawyers often report being burnt out in their careers – and it’s no wonder why!

Air traffic controller – £52,400 average annual salary

Air traffic controllers work under a high level of intensity. They’re responsible for making sure planes land safely. Their job demands a high level of concentration. Their job is so intense that they typically have to take breaks every 2 hours.

Surgeon – £77,647 average annual salary

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that operating on people might not be the easiest job in the world. Every time a surgeon operates, they do so knowing this person’s life is in their hands. And unfortunately, surgeons can’t always win every battle. It’s no wonder these heroes earn high salaries!

Firefighter – £27,409 average annual salary

Firefighters enter life-threatening situations everyday. The public depends on them for their safety. Firefighters are literally facing life or death while they’re at work. We think that qualifies as one of the most stressful jobs in the UK!

Military – £34,620 average annual salary for a lieutenant

Working in the military is a stressful experience. Personnel have to visit warzones, witness death and torture, and fight for their lives. Many ex-military personnel endure long-term suffering from the trauma they experienced at war.

Aaaand breathe

We know. You need to take a sabbatical after reading this blog, right?! But despite the stress, these professionals do their jobs for a reason. And that’s because it gives them a high level of job satisfaction. Stress comes with every job. But when you love what you do, you’d do it 100 times over.

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