Work Context Index

Jobs with the lowest measured work pressure

This list combines 5 O*NET Work Context measures. Each occupation's mean rating on each measure becomes a percentile rank among all 894 occupations, flipped where lower is preferred, and the percentiles are averaged. The 25 with the highest average are listed, with the components shown so the average can be checked.

Which jobs are lowest in measured pressure: deadlines, conflict, angry people, the stakes of a mistake and competition?

People search this as "low stress jobs". O*NET does not measure stress, so this ranking is built from what it does measure: Time Pressure, Conflict Situations, Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People, Consequence of Error, Level of Competition, rated by people who do each job. Comparing the work is not the same as predicting how a job will feel to you. Across the 894 occupations O*NET 30.3 rates, each occupation is placed on 5 O*NET measures at once, Time pressure (lower); Conflict situations (lower); Angry or unpleasant people (lower); Consequence of error (lower); Competition (lower), each converted to a percentile among all occupations in the preferred direction and averaged. The 25 listed here all sit at the 81st percentile or better on that average. Strongest are Models (96th percentile), Manicurists and Pedicurists (94th percentile), Dishwashers (94th percentile). Their median BLS wage is $48,605 (2025, 24 of 25 with a BLS line item), and 17 of the 24 with BLS education data typically need less than a bachelor's degree.

Occupations compared: 894 O*NET 30.3 occupations with published Work Context ratings
Measures combined: Time Pressure (lower is preferred); Conflict Situations (lower is preferred); Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People (lower is preferred); Consequence of Error (lower is preferred); Level of Competition (lower is preferred)
How they are combined: Each measure becomes a percentile rank among all occupations, flipped where lower is preferred, then the percentiles are averaged with equal weight. The figure is a rank average, not a suitability score.
Wage and outlook source: BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025 (Employment in thousands). 5 of the 25 occupations listed have a dedicated RoleSprint page.

Source and method

O*NET 30.3 Database (Work Context), U.S. Department of Labor, and BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Verified 2026-09-05. Ratings are reproduced from O*NET as published mean incumbent responses on each question's own 1-to-5 scale. Percentile ranks, composite averages and the resulting order are RoleSprint's computation and are described on the methodology page. Wage, education and outlook fields are reproduced from BLS for the matching SOC code and left blank where BLS publishes no line item.

What this page does and does not claim

People search this as “low stress jobs”. O*NET does not measure stress, so this ranking is built from what it does measure: 5 Work Context questions — Time Pressure, Conflict Situations, Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People, Consequence of Error, Level of Competition — each rated on a fixed 1-to-5 scale by people who do each job. That compares the work; it does not predict how a job will feel to you.

It does not say which jobs suit a personality, a temperament or a health condition. It reports a measured condition of the work and lets you decide whether that condition is the one you meant.

The 25 occupations

Ordered by mean percentile across time pressure, conflict situations, angry or unpleasant people, consequence of error, competition.

#	Occupation	Component values	Rank	BLS wage and education
1	Models O*NET-SOC 41-9012.00	Time pressure 1.67 · lower than 99% Conflict situations 1.73 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 1.60 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 2.22 · lower than 85% Competition 1.65 · lower than 99%	96th percentile mean of 5 measures	$48,470 median (2025) No formal educational credential · -2.1% 2025-35
2	Manicurists and Pedicurists O*NET-SOC 39-5092.00 Am I qualified to be a manicurist?	Time pressure 2.23 · lower than 99% Conflict situations 1.44 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 1.95 · lower than 96% Consequence of error 1.69 · lower than 98% Competition 2.56 · lower than 79%	94th percentile mean of 5 measures	$35,760 median (2025) Postsecondary nondegree award · +9.2% 2025-35
3	Dishwashers O*NET-SOC 35-9021.00 Dishwasher job description for a resume	Time pressure 3.35 · lower than 85% Conflict situations 2.09 · lower than 93% Angry or unpleasant people 1.54 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 1.81 · lower than 97% Competition 2.01 · lower than 96%	94th percentile mean of 5 measures	$34,810 median (2025) No formal educational credential · -1% 2025-35
4	Self-Enrichment Teachers O*NET-SOC 25-3021.00	Time pressure 2.76 · lower than 97% Conflict situations 2.14 · lower than 92% Angry or unpleasant people 2.17 · lower than 89% Consequence of error 1.84 · lower than 96% Competition 2.09 · lower than 95%	94th percentile mean of 5 measures	$46,800 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +3.5% 2025-35
5	Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters O*NET-SOC 51-2061.00	Time pressure 2.91 · lower than 96% Conflict situations 1.88 · lower than 98% Angry or unpleasant people 2.39 · lower than 76% Consequence of error 1.75 · lower than 97% Competition 2.06 · lower than 96%	93rd percentile mean of 5 measures	$62,620 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · -6.1% 2025-35
6	Directors, Religious Activities and Education O*NET-SOC 21-2021.00	Time pressure 2.61 · lower than 98% Conflict situations 2.51 · lower than 73% Angry or unpleasant people 2.10 · lower than 91% Consequence of error 1.44 · lower than 99% Competition 1.30 · lower than 99%	92nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$52,100 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +3.3% 2025-35
7	Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers O*NET-SOC 51-9123.00	Time pressure 2.86 · lower than 97% Conflict situations 2.02 · lower than 95% Angry or unpleasant people 2.10 · lower than 91% Consequence of error 1.83 · lower than 96% Competition 2.49 · lower than 82%	92nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$41,600 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +1.3% 2025-35
8	Social Science Research Assistants O*NET-SOC 19-4061.00	Time pressure 2.85 · lower than 97% Conflict situations 1.82 · lower than 98% Angry or unpleasant people 1.93 · lower than 96% Consequence of error 1.92 · lower than 94% Competition 2.66 · lower than 73%	92nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$61,990 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +5% 2025-35
9	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles O*NET-SOC 47-2042.00	Time pressure 3.32 · lower than 86% Conflict situations 1.84 · lower than 98% Angry or unpleasant people 2.25 · lower than 84% Consequence of error 2.00 · lower than 92% Competition 2.20 · lower than 93%	91st percentile mean of 5 measures	$56,460 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +9% 2025-35
10	Cutters and Trimmers, Hand O*NET-SOC 51-9031.00	Time pressure 3.75 · lower than 61% Conflict situations 1.42 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 1.24 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 2.13 · lower than 88% Competition 1.86 · lower than 98%	89th percentile mean of 5 measures	$38,020 median (2025) No formal educational credential · -18.9% 2025-35
11	Potters, Manufacturing O*NET-SOC 51-9195.05	Time pressure 3.00 · lower than 94% Conflict situations 2.15 · lower than 92% Angry or unpleasant people 1.89 · lower than 97% Consequence of error 2.53 · lower than 71% Competition 2.36 · lower than 88%	88th percentile mean of 5 measures	$46,170 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +5.8% 2025-35
12	Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators O*NET-SOC 27-1013.00	Time pressure 3.34 · lower than 85% Conflict situations 1.95 · lower than 97% Angry or unpleasant people 1.42 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 2.27 · lower than 83% Competition 2.62 · lower than 75%	88th percentile mean of 5 measures	$55,490 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · -2.9% 2025-35
13	Tour Guides and Escorts O*NET-SOC 39-7011.00 Am I qualified to be a tour guide?	Time pressure 3.41 · lower than 82% Conflict situations 2.30 · lower than 86% Angry or unpleasant people 2.34 · lower than 80% Consequence of error 1.90 · lower than 95% Competition 2.20 · lower than 93%	87th percentile mean of 5 measures	No BLS line item for this occupation
14	Geodetic Surveyors O*NET-SOC 17-1022.01	Time pressure 3.23 · lower than 90% Conflict situations 2.19 · lower than 91% Angry or unpleasant people 2.28 · lower than 83% Consequence of error 2.25 · lower than 85% Competition 2.44 · lower than 84%	87th percentile mean of 5 measures	$75,440 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +5.8% 2025-35
15	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer O*NET-SOC 17-2072.00	Time pressure 3.06 · lower than 93% Conflict situations 2.02 · lower than 95% Angry or unpleasant people 1.66 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 2.67 · lower than 65% Competition 2.53 · lower than 80%	86th percentile mean of 5 measures	$130,220 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +3.7% 2025-35
16	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners O*NET-SOC 37-2011.00 Am I qualified to be a janitor? Career Escape Map for janitors Janitor job description for a resume	Time pressure 2.96 · lower than 95% Conflict situations 1.98 · lower than 96% Angry or unpleasant people 2.70 · lower than 56% Consequence of error 2.38 · lower than 78% Competition 1.85 · lower than 98%	85th percentile mean of 5 measures	$36,840 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +2.2% 2025-35
17	Cooks, Short Order O*NET-SOC 35-2015.00	Time pressure 3.52 · lower than 75% Conflict situations 2.00 · lower than 95% Angry or unpleasant people 2.35 · lower than 79% Consequence of error 1.86 · lower than 96% Competition 2.57 · lower than 78%	85th percentile mean of 5 measures	$35,880 median (2025) No formal educational credential · -5.2% 2025-35
18	Rock Splitters, Quarry O*NET-SOC 47-5051.00	Time pressure 2.61 · lower than 98% Conflict situations 1.43 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 1.37 · lower than 99% Consequence of error 3.28 · lower than 36% Competition 2.33 · lower than 88%	84th percentile mean of 5 measures	$48,740 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +5.8% 2025-35
19	Funeral Attendants O*NET-SOC 39-4021.00	Time pressure 3.66 · lower than 68% Conflict situations 2.02 · lower than 95% Angry or unpleasant people 2.20 · lower than 87% Consequence of error 2.55 · lower than 70% Competition 1.47 · lower than 99%	84th percentile mean of 5 measures	$35,680 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +2.6% 2025-35
20	Procurement Clerks O*NET-SOC 43-3061.00	Time pressure 3.42 · lower than 82% Conflict situations 2.55 · lower than 71% Angry or unpleasant people 2.37 · lower than 77% Consequence of error 2.08 · lower than 89% Competition 1.76 · lower than 99%	84th percentile mean of 5 measures	$50,580 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · -8.1% 2025-35
21	Craft Artists O*NET-SOC 27-1012.00	Time pressure 2.65 · lower than 98% Conflict situations 1.78 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 2.00 · lower than 94% Consequence of error 1.78 · lower than 97% Competition 3.43 · lower than 24%	82nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$46,080 median (2025) No formal educational credential · +2% 2025-35
22	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic O*NET-SOC 51-4034.00	Time pressure 3.26 · lower than 89% Conflict situations 1.78 · lower than 99% Angry or unpleasant people 1.72 · lower than 98% Consequence of error 2.06 · lower than 90% Competition 3.29 · lower than 35%	82nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$50,620 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · -11.3% 2025-35
23	Conservation Scientists O*NET-SOC 19-1031.00 Am I qualified to be a conservation scientist?	Time pressure 3.30 · lower than 87% Conflict situations 2.13 · lower than 92% Angry or unpleasant people 2.30 · lower than 82% Consequence of error 2.48 · lower than 74% Competition 2.65 · lower than 73%	82nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$73,010 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +5.3% 2025-35
24	Speech-Language Pathology Assistants O*NET-SOC 31-9099.01	Time pressure 3.46 · lower than 79% Conflict situations 1.95 · lower than 97% Angry or unpleasant people 2.13 · lower than 90% Consequence of error 2.45 · lower than 75% Competition 2.76 · lower than 68%	82nd percentile mean of 5 measures	$48,430 median (2025) High school diploma or equivalent · +4.8% 2025-35
25	Museum Technicians and Conservators O*NET-SOC 25-4013.00	Time pressure 3.45 · lower than 80% Conflict situations 2.30 · lower than 86% Angry or unpleasant people 2.05 · lower than 93% Consequence of error 2.97 · lower than 50% Competition 1.90 · lower than 98%	81st percentile mean of 5 measures	$51,440 median (2025) Bachelor's degree · +3.6% 2025-35

Values are mean ratings from O*NET 30.3; most come from surveys of people in the occupation, some from occupational experts, and some for newer occupations from O*NET analysts. Wage, education and outlook are from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 for the matching SOC code and are blank where BLS publishes no line item.

How this was measured

Time Pressure (lower is preferred)
“How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Every day.
Conflict Situations (lower is preferred)
“How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Every day.
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People (lower is preferred)
“How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?” Scale 1 = Never; 5 = Every day.
Consequence of Error (lower is preferred)
“How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?” Scale 1 = Not serious at all; 5 = Extremely serious.
Level of Competition (lower is preferred)
“To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?” Scale 1 = Not at all competitive; 5 = Extremely competitive.

The full method, including how ties are broken and what the data cannot tell you, is on the methodology page.

Narrow the list with BLS data

Each variant keeps the same measure and restricts the occupations by a published BLS threshold. A variant exists only where the restriction actually changes the list rather than the heading; the combinations that left the answer much as it was were not published.

Combine this with other conditions

The explorer ranks all occupations on any set of measures you choose, with the same values and the same arithmetic as this page.

Open the explorer with this selection

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. RoleSprint has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Wage, education and outlook figures are reproduced from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What to do next

These rankings describe occupations in general. The next question is whether a specific opening in one of them actually matches what you can show, and that is answered by comparing the posting with your resume.