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collage of a stressed out nurse and stressed warehouse worker
iStock / Cheapism

Is there a job on earth that isn’t at least a little bit stressful? Maybe if you’re a professional puppy snuggler, you never have an anxiety-ridden work day. But for the general public, work isn’t all puppies and sunshine. 

THC retailer Tre House conducted research that looked into 26 different factors — including hours worked, wages, and paid sick leave — to determine the most stressful industries in the U.S. We’ve highlighted the top five below. 

1. Warehousing and Storage

Tired or worried female warehouse worker
FG Trade/istockphoto

Pack that box, but make sure you put all of the right items in it! Wrap everything accordingly so nothing breaks or spills in the package! Grab the tape and get moving! Hurry, hurry, hurry! 

Needless to say, warehouse workers are in a fast-paced, high-stress environment, and with an alarmingly high turnover rate, it makes perfect sense that this is the most stressful industry.

2. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

Shot of a masked young doctor looking distressed
Charday Penn/istockphoto

Nursing has always been a stressful gig, and since the pandemic, it’s become even more glaringly apparent that these healthcare professionals do not have it easy. No matter the setting, this industry isn’t for the faint-hearted. 

3. Waste Management and Related Services

Cropped shot of a garbage collection team at work
PeopleImages/istockphoto

It could be raining cats and dogs or snowing sideways and waste management workers would still have to hang on to the back of a garbage truck and sling cans. This dirty job rarely inspires a warm and fuzzy feeling for workers.

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4. Food Manufacturing

Factory, Manual Worker, Quality Control - Biscuit Factory Worker Standing Besides the Conveyor Belt, Stacking the Freshly Baked Cookies for Packaging
GCShutter/istockphoto

Manufacturing gigs are inherently stressful thanks to the fast-paced environment. Food manufacturing adds another taxing layer with subpar quality standards, contamination risks, and a laundry list of other daunting aspects.

Related: Here’s What Happens Inside the KFC Kitchen

5. Food Services and Drinking Establishments

A mid adult Hispanic woman in her 30s working in a restaurant. She is in the kitchen, pulling a stack of plates from a shelf.
kali9/istockphoto

You know that burst of panic that shoots up your spine and lands in your gut when you remember that you forgot to put in the order of mozzarella sticks for the grumpy guy at table 4? You transfer the pressure to the cook, frantically asking them to make those mozz sticks as fast as humanly possible. Seriously, if you know you know. And if you don’t, just understand that workers in the food services industry deal with all kinds of stressors. 

Related: Your Go-To Guide for Every Tipping Scenario (Including When It’s OK To Skip the Tip)

Other Stressful Industries

Uniformed young woman working as hotel maid resting in the laundry
Dimensions/istockphoto

These five industries round out the top ten in regards to being the most stressful:

  • Support Activities For Mining
  • Wood Products 
  • Accommodation
  • General Merchandise Stores 
  • Health And Personal Care Stores 

Meet the Writer

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all). You can reach her at [email protected].