Insurance Agent: The Job Everybody Else Wants

High School Teacher, No. 137

Does anyone know what a high school teacher does? Well, you would if you had paid attention during class! Add work environment, stress, physical demands and hiring outlook together, and divide that by $53,137 a year, what do you get? Anyone, anyone? That’s right: a-b-y-s-m-a-l.

Military General, No. 141

High-ranking leaders in their branch of the armed forces command troops through military training operations and into battle. It doesn’t take much to imagine what kind of work environment, stress and physical demands this occupation entails, but any job that pays $196,017 a year and is still this far down the list probably isn’t a day at the beach. Hiring outlook isn’t just low, it’s negative. And no, that does not mean there’s an opening.

Bartender, No. 162

Bartenders listen to all your problems, and occasionally mix and serve drinks to customers. This all happens in a tavern, restaurant or lounge setting, which is, apparently, a tougher work environment than it appears when sitting on the other side of the bar. Stress is 3% by volume and the hiring outlook is low because it’s really not as cool as the first half-hour of the movie “Cocktail.”

Actor, No. 178

Actors entertain, inform and instruct audiences by interpreting dramatic roles on stage, film, television or radio. An income of $50,118 a year seems high. Either the mega-actors commanding $20 million a movie are really pulling up the average or the income from regular actors’ day-jobs (Waiter/Waitress, No. 195) is factored in. This job rated surprisingly well on stress, physical demands and work environment, which explains why everyone wants to be one. Too bad critics give the hiring outlook half a star.

Firefighter, No. 185

Firefighters protect individuals, and save lives and property from fire — and keep Dalmatians en vogue. They make $45,226 a year and have the harshest work environment AND toughest physical demands of any other job on the entire list. Seriously, next time they flash their lights at you, do them a solid and pull your car over — they have enough to deal with.

Lumberjack, No. 200

Timber de-verticalization engineers fell, cut and transport trees to be processed into lumber, paper and other wood products. Hiring outlook is almost zero, stress is high, no doubt from just trying to stay alive each day, and the incredible physical demands are certainly not from lugging the $32,114 a year to the bank.