Every job has its own brand of stress. For some, it’s the urgency to meet a deadline. For others, it’s the ticking clock to save a patient’s life.
The 2017 Best Jobs rankings look closely at this metric, assigning qualitative scores based on interviews with industry professionals and information in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. Based on work environment and the complexity of job responsibilities, the following professions earned scores of “high” for stress.

Best Jobs overall rank: 14
Work-life balance: Low
Industry: Health Care Learn more about what it’s like to be a surgeon. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 61
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a lawyer. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a bartender. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 98
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Health Care Support Learn more about what it’s like to be a paramedic. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 90
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a patrol officer. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 17 (tie)
Work-life balance: Low
Industry: Health Care Learn more about what it’s like to be an anesthesiologist. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 17 (tie)
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Health Care Learn more about what it’s like to be a physician. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 29
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Technology Learn more about what it’s like to be an IT manager. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 48
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Business Learn more about what it’s like to be a financial manager. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 50
Work-life balance: Low
Industry: Health Care Support Learn more about what it’s like to be a cardiovascular technologist. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 51
Work-life balance: Above average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a marriage and family therapist. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/dima_sidelnikov)

Best Jobs overall rank: 62
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a clinical social worker. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 71
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Business Learn more about what it’s like to be a financial analyst. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 89
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Construction Learn more about what it’s like to be a construction manager. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 96
Work-life balance: Above average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a child and family social worker. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 97
Work-life balance: Low
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a mental health counselor. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: 99
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Sales Learn more about what it’s like to be a sales manager. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Business Learn more about what it’s like to be a compliance officer. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Social Services Learn more about what it’s like to be a community health worker. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Health Care Learn more about what it’s like to be a rehabilitation counselor. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Below average
Industry: Construction Learn more about what it’s like to be a construction worker. (Thinkstock)

Best Jobs overall rank: Unranked
Work-life balance: Average
Industry: Construction Learn more about what it’s like to be a structural iron and steelworker. (Thinkstock)






















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The Most Stressful Jobs of 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com