The least stressful job for 2013 is being a university professor, according to Forbes. "For tenure-track professors, there is some pressure to publish books and articles, but deadlines are few. Working conditions tend to be cozy and civilized and there are minimal travel demands, except perhaps a non-mandatory conference or two," writes Susan Adams.
Other jobs on her list include seamstress, dietician, and hair stylist. To make her list, Adams drew on CareerCast data, and Tony Lee from CareerCast notes that the least stressful jobs all give people a modicum of autonomy.
Some science professors, though, balk at their job being called the least stressful one out there. "Forbes, you're kidding, right? University professor is least stressful job?? Right before "seamstress"??" tweets May Berenbaum from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Adams also says that professors don't work a full year and get a lot of time off. Additionally, she notes that while the average pay is not high, university towns aren't too expensive to live in.
"Word. I mean, I know I spend my summers lounging on the porch drinking bourbon, you? And how you folks at Columbia, UCLA or Boston University liking those cheap college towns you live in?" Prof-like Substance blogs in response. "I'm not saying that University Professor is one of the most stressful jobs out there, but if you're going to call something cushy, it would help to understand what you are talking about."
Interestingly, a separate list published at Forbes in September calls being a biologist one of the most underrated jobs of 2012.