Do you end your Sundays with a feeling of dread about the work week ahead? You’re not alone. Hustle culture has pushed many professionals to the breaking point, and the data checks out. A recent report from PR Daily found that nearly a third of workers quit their jobs due to burnout, which is a form of chronic workplace stress.
Right up there with burnout was low pay. But how could you let that go when the way it has always been was that earning a six-figure salary demanded a high-stress environment? Well, that belief could be a myth.
With more people seeking quiet jobs, it’s clear there’s a huge demand for careers that value well-being. The good news is, you don’t have to trade your peace of mind for a big paycheck. Here are four low-stress, six-figure jobs that prove it.
1. Technical Writer
Technical writers are the translators of the corporate world. They take complex information about a product or service and turn it into clear, easy-to-understand instruction manuals, help guides and support documentation. Their job is to clarify the complex.
This role is perfect for those who love structure. The work of a technical writer is project-based with clear deadlines and a well-defined “done.” Your success as a technical writer depends on the clarity and accuracy of your writing. Forget about navigating office politics and worrying about your attendance in endless meetings.
Technical writer jobs pay well because of their direct impact on a company’s bottom line. Companies see them as high-value investments for their excellent documentation skills. This skill saves companies millions by reducing costly customer support calls and improving user satisfaction.
Based on Glassdoor data, technical writers across all years of experience and all industries have a median total pay of $102,000 per year. This is perfect for detail-oriented thinkers. If you have a background as a teacher, an editor or you’re just the person everyone asks to explain things, your skills are a natural fit.
2. Actuary
Actuaries are the risk mathematicians of the business world, primarily working in insurance and finance. They use statistics, financial theory and data analysis to calculate the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.
This role is deeply analytical and independent. You work on data and verifiable models, which has nothing to do with office drama. It’s a classic “deep work” career that rewards quiet concentration and logical thinking.
Actuaries make good money for being the financial bedrock of insurance companies and financial institutions. Their ability to accurately price risk directly impacts profitability. It’s a highly respected profession with a rigorous certification process with a median annual wage of $125,770, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report in May 2024.
This job is a dream for anyone who loves math, statistics and solving complex puzzles. If you find comfort in numbers and logic, this is a career path with immense stability and financial reward.
3. Corporate Or Research Librarian
Forget the stereotypes about librarians just checking out books. Corporate librarians are high-level information specialists. They work for law firms, medical companies or large corporations. These specialists manage valuable databases, conduct critical research and ensure that decision-makers have the exact information they need, right when they need it.
It may seem stressful but it’s actually low-stress as a service-oriented role that often exists within a quiet, focused environment. The “clients” are your internal colleagues, and the work is project-based, allowing you to focus on one research task at a time.
In fields like law, finance or R&D, having the right information faster than the competition is a massive competitive advantage. Companies in these industries would highly pay these specialized librarians for their expertise in managing and retrieving critical data. Salaries for experienced corporate librarians often reach $123,000 per year, based on Glassdoor salary figures.
This role is perfect for highly organized people who love research and bringing order to chaos. If you’re the person who loves building the perfect spreadsheet, try looking into a career as a corporate or research librarian.
4. Niche Graphic Designer (e.g., Medical Illustrator)
Instead of being a generalist graphic designer competing for every logo and website project, a niche designer becomes a deep expert in one specific, high-value area. Think of a medical illustrator for pharmaceutical companies, a presentation designer for C-suite executives or a data visualization expert for financial firms.
When you’re a specialist, you’re hired as an expert, not a pair of hands. This means more respect for your process, fewer subjective revisions and less competition. Like most other low-stress jobs, the work is project-based, giving you time to focus on your craft.
Deep expertise is rare and valuable. Generally, design roles are some of the top high-paying jobs for creative people. As a specialized designer, your experience would earn you up to $110,000 a year, based on Glassdoor data on the median total pay of medical illustrators .
This career is for creative individuals who also love detail and want to become the go-to expert in a specific field.
Believing that you must trade your well-being for a big paycheck is outdated. By seeking out roles that value deep work, expertise and a calm, focused environment, you can build a successful career that supports your financial goals and protects your peace of mind.
Source – https://www.forbes.com/sites/shodewan/2025/12/11/4-low-stress-six-figure-jobs-that-arent-in-tech/