Top 10 most relaxing jobs in the US

Chilling at work AND getting paid? Trust me, it’s not as ambitious and unattainable as it sounds. Work doesn’t have to be miserable and stressful. In this article, we show you the top 10 most relaxing jobs in the US.

Derived from Adzuna’s real-time database of over 10 million jobs in the US, our research looks at various factors to gauge the stress level of every profession. These factors include:

Inherent requirements: how often the role requires customer facing, quota hitting, traveling and commuting, decision making and competing against other colleagues; whether the role has strict deadlines, huge workload, long working hours and growth potential
Impact: public visibility, lawsuits, the fatality of a wrong judgment
Health and safety: physical demands, personal hazards, and immediate risk to others’ lives and safety

Pet sitter

A purrfect job for those who are pawsitive. Previous research has found that interacting with pets like cats and dogs can relieve stress, provide social support and boost the mood. Imagine how therapeutic this job will be.

Working hours might vary, depending on the owner’s schedule. Occasionally, a furry friend might spend a night at your house. There are no harsh deadlines, no quotas to hit and no major health hazards. On top of playtime, you’ll be completing basic caring tasks, such as feeding, changing drinking water, clearing litter boxes, taking pets for a walk and any necessary visits to the vet.

Average salary: $28,037

Similar jobs: Dog walker, zookeeper, dog groomer

Check out all available vacancies here.

Yoga instructor

The second job on our list is a great option for finding your zen. While others go for yoga and meditation to end their work days, you’ll be practicing yoga and getting paid for it.

A yoga instructor helps students improve flexibility, tone their bodies and reduce stress on the mat. Core responsibilities include creating a sequence of yoga poses, delivering it to the students and offering adjustments.

Average salary: $46,000

Similar jobs: Masseur, spa therapist, art therapist

Explore yoga instructor vacancies here.

Gemologist

Diamonds are ~~a girl’s~~ everyone’s best friend. (Sorry, Marilyn. Who can resist a dazzling jewel?) As a gemologist, you get to bury your face in diamonds, precious colored gemstones and finished pieces of jewelry every day.

Your daily tasks include evaluating aesthetically-pleasing gems, grading them according to industry standards and preparing identification reports. It can be a very lucrative job, with salaries going up to $84,000. A college degree is not compulsory but you definitely need to get certified by trade associations, such as International Gemological Institute and Gemological Institute of America.

Average salary: up to $60,739

Similar jobs: Diamond grader, jewelry appraiser

Click here to become a gemologist.

Food scientist

Probably a permanent solution to those who always get hangry, as you’ll get to munch on food at work. What’s more, you become the mastermind behind delicious culinary products.

A food scientist tests new food products, creates recipes, develops scientific ways to improve the quality of existing menus, and evaluates ingredients and parameters. There are typically no strict deadlines, no overtime working, and you get to work in a team in a lab. If you’re interested, consider taking a bachelor’s degree in food science, chemical engineering or related disciplines.

Average salary: $60,113

Similar job: Nutritionist

Considering being a food scientist? Click here to learn more.

Gardener

Gardening is a relaxing job for those who love nature and being outdoors. According to BBC Science Focus, during gardening, our brains switch off, and we instinctively divert our concentration to the nature around us. This relieves stress and reduces negative feelings.

A day in the life of a gardener typically revolves around plants, trees and garden landscapes. It entails monitoring, planting, watering, fertilization, trimming, mowing and troubleshooting.

Professional gardening seldom gets repetitive and monotonous because every garden contains different species and demands different levels of care. You also get to enjoy flexible hours.

Average salary: $36,992

Similar job: Hair stylist

Interested? Find roles close to where you live.

Perfumer

Do you have an extraordinarily sharp nose? Can you identify specific scents in a fragrance? If you do, you are already halfway through becoming a professional perfumer. Now you need to hone your chemistry knowledge.

Perfumery is a very niche occupation. Experts spend most of the time in a research lab sniffing different ingredients, crafting formulas and reviewing the product of their alchemy. As an artisanal role where quality precedes quantity, there is little to no pressure from the outside; it can take many trials to find a perfect note.

Average salary: $73,728

Similar jobs: Chemist, clinical trial specialist

Take a look at available vacancies here.

Data entry clerk

Administrative roles are typically 9-to-5 so data entry clerks can usually achieve a good work-life balance. As a data entry clerk, you’ll be responsible for inputting data into systems and maintaining documentation and database. The role requires attention to detail and good organizational skills. Inaccurate data inputs can be problematic but are seldom lethal to a business. Interestingly, data entry clerks are the most sought-after jobs in 2022.

Average salary: $27,000

Similar jobs: Librarian, archivist, medical records technician

Tap here to unlock 302,285 data entry job opportunities.

Compliance officer

A compliance officer ensures the business is running legally and ethically by reviewing internal company policies, advising on compliance-related risks and implementing procedures that meet regulatory requirements. It is a job with a decent work-life balance, high job security and a rewarding salary. On top of working independently, you’ll also get to regularly collaborate with other departments. An undergraduate degree in accountancy, business, economics or law is preferred for entry roles. Consider taking courses by International Compliance Association.

Average salary: $71,100

Similar job: Regulatory associate

Click here to view all the compliance-related job postings in the US.

Proofreader

There are deadlines to be met, and occasionally there might be pressure coming from unhappy writers who do not embrace the changes you made. That said, the proofreading role is more relaxing than other editorial roles. A proofreader’s duty can be mechanical when they correct inarguable grammatical errors. It can be rewarding when they successfully improve the flow of a writer’s prose.

Average salary: $50,000

Interested in editorial but crave work-life balance? Check out these jobs.

Audiologist

An audiologist performs hearing and balance disorder diagnosis and provides therapeutic rehabilitation. It is a 9-to-5 job with high pay and it is very unlikely that patients will pass away on your watch. Your stress source mainly comes from patients who got frustrated by their lack of progress. To become an audiologist, you must complete an audiology degree and a three-year NHS practitioner training programme in healthcare science.

Average salary: $81,000

Click here to view all available vacancies.

Looking for a new job? Check out all available roles in the US here. Is the role you’re looking at not disclosing a salary? Use our ValueMyResume Tool to find out how much you should be paid.