Top 10 Most Stressful Jobs in America

Working a stressful job is no fun at all.

As most people have found, working 40 hours per week or more can bring on a lot of stress into one's life. Working that much and being in the wrong field can add to that stress even more so. Beyond that, there are some jobs, even jobs certain people love to do, that are hands down the most stressful jobs in America.

Real Estate Agents

One of the top 10 most stressful jobs in America is that of a real estate agent. Real estate agents can work a lot of hours that vary from day to day. They also must be very good with people, for most of their work will require them to show the property they are selling to their clients. Combining those two issues with the competitiveness of the real estate market makes this job one of the most stressful jobs in America.

Advertising Executive

Advertising executives, much like real estate agents, also work odd and irregular hours. Most of the stress associated with this job pertains to emotional and mental stress of working those odd hours and managing large accounts. Advertising executives also must meet deadlines and pay close attention to detail, which adds even more to their stress.

Public Relations Officer

One of the biggest fears many people share is speaking in front of people. Public relations officers are required to make speeches and presentations in front of large crowds and often must deal with and interact with opposing members of the media.

Highway Patrol Officer

Highway patrol officers have a lot working against them when it comes to stress. From working holidays, late nights and weekends, to high-speed chases and life-threatening situations, highway patrol officers deal with stress from all angles. Because of the physical and mental stamina, and the attention to detail that is required, the job of a highway patrol officer is one of the top 10 most stressful jobs in America.

Commercial Pilot

If you have ever traveled and flown over multiple time zones, then you probably understand what jet lag is. Now imagine that flying is your full-time job. As a commercial pilot, you must work odd hours, flying multiple routes, dealing with layovers, and subsequently jet lag. On top of that, you must also arrive on time, regardless of the weather, and insure the safety and comfort of everyone on board. It's all of these factors that makes the job of a commercial pilot on of the top 10 most stressful jobs in America.

Police Officer

Police officers are often confronted with life-threatening situations on a daily basis. Their shifts can be long and require them to deal with emergencies that call for physical and mental endurance. They also must work with the public and occasionally provide medical attention to injured people.

Surgeon

For surgeons, a day at the office requires them to deal with multiple life and death situations per shift. Many of the surgeries they perform require immense precision and fast decision making. They also must deal with the fact that if they mess up a surgery, they can often be sued for malpractice. To top it off, surgeons work long hours.

Taxi Driver

Imagine being confined to a vehicle for long hours of the day and having to deal with a carousel of people coming in and out of your car. That's the life of a taxi driver. Not only do they work long hours, but they often have to deal with dangerous traffic and bad weather on a daily basis. Taxi drivers also carry large sums of money, making them a target for criminals.

Corporate Executive

Corporate executives have an immense amount of responsibility to deal with. They must stay on top of financial knowledge, economic trends and other developments. They also must deal with the stress that their decisions can often effect not only a large number of the employees under them, but also the companies overall bottom line.

Firefighter

Firefighters must work long and odd hours and are often on call throughout the night. While on the job, they risk heat exhaustion, serious injury and sometimes their lives. Firefighters usually work outdoors, in bad weather, and fighting out of control fires.

References

• CNBC.com: America's Most Stressful Jobs 2010