Before you say that Computer Software Engineers don't have a high-stress job, I think you need to do some more research. I was in the computer field for over 20 years working for companies like Oracle and Computer Associates. I knew plenty of these guys, and they were well-paid, but almost ALWAYS stressed out, mostly due to difficult/impossible deadlines.

Agree with Jack H., Computer Software Eng. is the last thing from "low stress". Should really do your research before writing articles.

Its extremely rare to be a software engineer and work a 40 hour week. Deadlines, learning new technologies and 60-100 hour work weeks are common.

Oh - and the pay is nearly 50% of what it was 10 years ago - thanks to the progressives H1B Visa program and offshoring - you may want to do some actual research next time before writing an article.

Apparently, Ms. Bell did little or no REAL research on this story. Civil Engineering is a stress-free job! Think again, Ms Bell didn't even consider the significance of her first sentence - did she ever think that there might be some STRESS associated with thousands of people depending on the safety of the infrastructure that one is designing? And working in teams yes, but typically that boils down to teams of ONE linked together by a common project. Sorry, Ms Bell needs to head back to the drawing board and TALK to a civil engineer before she rights about them next time...she could start with me or any one of the many civil engineers I know.

Please do real research before reporting - software engineering is NOT a stress-free job. Maybe in the 90's when we could write our own paychecks and people still respected the craft it was a little easier. These days? If the company isn't offshoring it, you're working 60-80 hour weeks on impossible deadlines because it's back to being dollar-driven by sales rather than technology driven by the developers. Please interview real developers before you write these kinds of articles.

Technical writers earn 12K a year in India......

Obviously most computer programming and technical writing are outsourced to other country's so those jobs arent around much anymore.

HI

I am a massage therapist, and am amazed at the idea that it isn't a stressful job. If you work for an emplyer, you are expected to perform miracles, not have to go to the bathroom, use your physical body to relieve stress in a hardened and sick body, and do it in a neat 50 minute package. Get real, and I agree, its not jackhammering the street at midnight.

A typical online article written by someone who has never had a real job.

-Mechanical Engineer

haha... glad I just got into physical therapy masters program this week.

Big pay always comes with high stress. That is why the pay is high. I worked a high pay job for many years and my phone number was plastered on every managers bulletin board for 24/7 reporting.

Police officers make $45k.... in what world do you live? In our area they START at $55k... get fully paid medical... and can retire on a great pension at 55 and 25 years of service... (and then many of them go on to work for another police department)....

This article forgot to mention about members of Congress...they get huge pay and pension, plenty of "under the table" bonuses which are not taxed because nobody knows about them. plenty of expensive vacation time off for them and their families (including mistresses) to golf resorts paid for by lobbyists, and they get acknowledged with loads of awards by the country for wasting tax payers to benefit themselves, their families and mistresses (or life partners if they are gay). They then get to write about their exploits and get paid for it. They seldom if ever get caught because of protection by their corrupt cronies. Best job in the world...No surprise this job is so popular, and they will fight tooth and nail to get these jobs and keep them...

Technical Writers in high demand? That hasn't been true for years. It's the first thing that's cut from a project, either offshored or forced on some already overworked engineer. This is one of the most poorly researched articles I have ever read. And just because logistically one can do this work from home, doesn't mean employers are handing over laptops and secure network connections left and right. Most workplaces still demand your presence in their cubicle farms whether it makes sense or not.

Signed -- Unemployed, burned out Technical Writer

I'm sure these occupations can be low stress, but is this is MSNBC's range of high salaries, they're insulting society. $45,000 doesn't allow a middle class lifestyle in many parts of the USA today. Might have in 1990, but who cares? And even $130,000 is not that much.

Thoughts, anyone?

Oh wow, that is very interesting indeed.

Lou

http://www.anon-posting.at.tc

This article is obviously an attempt to boost the spirits of job seekers with pie-in-the-sky promises, not a description of what these jobs are really like. If she sat in some of our morning status meetings, I don't think she'd think software engineers and technical writers have low-stress jobs.

You want a low stress job? Try Careers Reporter for MSNBC. Apparently research duties and fact checking are optional. Some sources for these salary ranges would help.

And never assume that "working from home" automatically means low stress. Since I started working from home, I don't have traffic and weather stress, too; but my hours and responsibilities have increased.

What few jobs we do have left in this country that are not being outsourced are about to be taken by illegal aliens. Just as soon as the Dems get amnesty for the 15-20 million already here (taking jobs from American CITIZENS and LEGAL immigrants) then THEY will bring their extended families here, also the Dems are hellbent and dead set on NOT securing the southern border. They want the illegals to keep pouring in for future votes, the Reps. want them here for cheap labor to continue to erode the wages and jobs of Americans and LEGAL immigrants. The last amnesty with no border security turned about 5 million illegals into legals, with the border still wide open - they have been pouring in like a raging, flooding river of humanity - here to get every job available. No matter how cheap they work here it is better than Mexican wages.

Wake up people. We just THINK times are hard now and jobs are hard to come by and to keep. If we don't stand up and force our gov. to secure and close that border and fight this next huge amnesty that Pelosi, Reid an Obama are working furiously to pass --- then kiss goodbye any hope of a decent future for your children and their children. Third world status America, here we come. Adios middle class and opportunity to advance. Check it out www.numbersusa.com

This article shows a real misrepresentation of the facts. Did anyone notice all of these jobs are degreed postions except Massage Therapy? Massage Therapy is an entry level job, most states are licensed, some are not. Depending on the place of employment, it can be a very low paying and very high stress position. Try working for a doctor, doing 5-7 minutes of therapy per person (8-12 per hour) while patients demand their 15 minutes they're being billed for and being paid barely above mininum wage. Massage is now a highly competitive field as massage schools pump out more and more underqualified therapists. Many apply for jobs and don't have resumes or know what references are. Some provide barely more than a rub, while many real therapists spend much time money and effort to provide the best actual therapy they can, often injuring themselves or burning out in 2-3 years. All therapists must maintian state or city licensure, ceu's and are bound by the medical HIPPA laws and must maintain proper documentation. For independant practitioners, insurance billing is a nightmare, IF the client has benefits, that can be used NOT in a dr's office. Dr's often hire therapists they can get to do the most work for the lowest price, not the most qualified or do whats in the patients best interest. The largest and oldest SPA on the west coast of FL, starts at 8-9 dollars an hour, the therapist receives the mandatory 20 percent gratuity, but the SPA charges upwards of 120 an hour and the therapist is REQUIRED to SELL a minimum of products per session, while paying off that school loan of an average of 10 thousand dollars. Last but not least, even in the most professional of environments, massage practitioners have to fend off jokes of happy endings, men AND women who will inappropriatly touch themselves or the therapist. How's that for stress?

As soon as I saw Software Engineer on the list, I knew this article was bogus. I worked for over 20 years first as a Software technical support engineer, then a Software Design Engineer and am now retired. Anyone who knows anything about this field will tell you it's extremely high stress and can burn you out in a very short time.

One quick online search can turn up all kinds of articles on the stress in this industry and the author actually mentioned the gamming industry which is among the lower paying areas of Software Engineering and well known as one of the highest stress areas. They sucker young kids right out of college into this area and burn them out in less than 5 years. Search for articles about Electronic Arts, one of the biggest employers in the gaming field. Read the blogs of ex-employees.

Basically, this author is full of crap!

i guess there no such thing as a highpay low stress job kind of a disappointment, or maybe a lot of people on here are really disastified with their employers

I guess there no such thing as a low stress high paying job, or maybe alot of the people here had bad experiences with their past or current employers after all only thirty people responded out of the thousands of people who work in the fields listed here, I dont just wishful thinking but maybe there is such thing, I think people like high stress jobs at one point because then they don't feel like their working hard or at the very least talk about their employers and coworkers.

The part on civil engineers not having to look to hard for jobs, right. My husband is one and did not find a damn job for more than 6 months and now working as a "contractor" for this engineering company, which I know he's not a "contractor". It's just a way of that company not wanting to pay taxes and then on top of that, to get paid when they collect from their clients. Yeah, sure, his last paycheck was $200! People make more than that at McDonald's. My thought in this field? How long would your significant other will be willing to carry the burden of financial responsibilities before he or she say, get another freaking career or move out. For that much money paid, they're hiring more "contractors" even this man that has PE license and more than 10 years of experience. That should say the man is desperate for work to be at this company.

Before jumping into a career, people should do some research on about their field, not just whether you like or not, but can you meet your financial responsibilities with that career. I'm not saying to throw it out the window on what you may be interested in, but be prepared to be part of the unemployment group each year. The other option would be to have something to back it up, like a minor in business. You can basically go into almost any industry with a business degree. It doesn't have to be a four year degree or even a degree for that matters. Be willing to do some or a lot of administrative work. If a company (especially small one), for example, if you're in civil eng. gets slow on getting projects, at least they can keep you around to do other things, if not, you can find work elsewhere and not have to wait for that great dream engineering job of yours and let people around you suffer for your own selfishness or even your own self esteem going down not being able to find work.