The Jobs with the Most (& Least) Burnout: Where Does Your Career Land?
What Careers Lead to the Most Burnout?
This is easily one of the most common questions I get, right up there with the telltale signs of burnout. Let’s face it—we all want a bit of validation, to know if we’re alone in feeling drained and exhausted by our work. If you’re wondering if burnout might be impacting you, take my “What’s Your Burnout Type?” Quiz. It’s a quick, free tool to help you identify red flags before burnout takes over.
Let’s dive into the professions most often associated with high burnout rates—and why they’re so prone to it.
Top Professions with the Most Burnout
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1. Social Workers
Social workers face burnout on a level that’s difficult to overstate. Handling emotionally intense cases daily and often juggling overwhelming caseloads, they’re at the forefront of society’s toughest issues. A 2024 report found that over 75% of social workers experience burnout due to the relentless emotional weight of their work. Many also struggle with systemic challenges, like underfunded programs and lack of support.
2. Emergency Responders & Medical Professionals
(Including police officers, firefighters, ER nurses, dispatchers, physicians, pharmacists)
Life-or-death situations, chronic sleep deprivation, and long shifts make these roles incredibly burnout-prone. 40% of ER staff report persistent emotional exhaustion, with similar rates in law enforcement. These high-stress careers activate the body’s stress response system (the HPA axis) day in and day out, leading to emotional and physical depletion.
Struggling in one of these fields? Consider building sustainable routines with systems that reduce decision fatigue and improve efficiency—something our Systems School is designed to help with.
3. Design Professionals
Creative professions often fly under the radar as burnout-heavy, but they’re far from immune. Designers juggle high client expectations, tight deadlines, and shifting priorities. Over 55% of designers report feeling burned out, often due to unclear feedback and the constant need to deliver fresh, innovative ideas under pressure.
4. Entrepreneurs & Corporate Professionals
Why combine these two groups? Because neither job truly “ends.” Entrepreneurs often set unrealistic expectations for themselves, while corporate workers face demands from bosses and clients alike. A Comparably survey revealed that 44% of corporate workers feel pressured to work on vacation. Entrepreneurs? They self-impose those same pressures.
Both groups benefit immensely from automated systems and boundaries—tools we teach in programs like Burnout-Proof Business.
5. Lawyers
Lawyers are no strangers to burnout, with 73% reporting it in recent studies. Heavy workloads, high-stakes cases, and a “work hard, don’t complain” culture drive many lawyers to the brink. Those with ISFJ personality types—who often take on too much—are especially vulnerable.
6. Academic STEM Professionals
I spent a decade in academic science, so I know firsthand why STEM pros experience burnout. STEM fields are rife with burnout, especially in academia. Nearly 40% of students leave STEM programs within four years, and those who persist face relentless pressure to innovate and produce. Women in STEM face additional hurdles, including isolation and lack of support.
Want to avoid burnout? Our systems coaching helps you streamline priorities, freeing up time for what matters most.
7. Journalists
Low pay, chaotic hours, and tough deadlines make journalism a hotbed for burnout. Reporters rarely get a break, often covering emotionally heavy stories with unpredictable hours. These stressors place journalism consistently among the most burnout-heavy careers.
8. Retail Workers
Retail burnout stems from low pay, underappreciation, and minimal career growth opportunities. Many workers juggle multiple part-time jobs just to make ends meet, resulting in mental and emotional exhaustion.
9. Military Personnel
From rigorous training to deployments and post-service challenges like PTSD, military personnel experience significant burnout. The intense mental, physical, and emotional demands make military service one of the toughest professions in terms of burnout.
10. Teachers & Educators
Teachers invest so much in their students, often at the expense of their own well-being. Long hours, emotional responsibility, and inadequate pay make teaching a high-burnout field. A 2024 LinkedIn study highlighted that educators rank among the top three professions for burnout, particularly post-pandemic.
No matter what field you’re in, one thing’s clear: without the right systems, burnout is inevitable. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Check out Sustainable Systems, where I’ll show you how to automate, organize, and streamline your life for less stress and more control.
What About the Least Stressful Careers?
On the flip side, certain jobs consistently rank as low-stress, offering stability, predictable schedules, or environments with fewer high-pressure demands. According to recent studies, here are some of the least stressful roles:
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Compliance Officer
Hairstylist
University Professor (tenured)
Jeweler
And for those seeking high-paying, low-stress careers, check out these options:
Environmental Scientists
Financial Examiners
Database Architects
Art Directors
For more, read this USC article.
How to Prevent Burnout (Regardless of Your Job)
Feeling the burn? Whether your job is on this list or not, no one is immune to burnout. Here’s how you can start combating it:
Prioritize Self-Care: Block time for activities that recharge you.
Set Boundaries: Protect your personal time fiercely.
Automate Tasks: Free up mental energy with tools like Notion™ or Squarespace—systems we specialize in through Sustainable Systems.
Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate stress-reducing habits like meditation or deep breathing.
Want a deeper dive? Explore our burnout prevention resources.
Burnout doesn’t have to define your career. Whether you’re in one of the most burnout-prone professions or just looking for more balance, we’ve got the tools and systems to help you thrive.
Let’s make burnout-proof success your new normal.
