What would you guess is the most stressful job?
The answer might surprise you.
According to a new study by the Leader Institute, America’s most stressful job in 2025 is flight attendant, with a stress score of 91 out of 100. Why? Because their days are a whirlwind of jet lag, irregular hours, unruly passengers, and serious safety responsibilities – all while confined in a plane with no escape. On top of that, they face long-term health risks like radiation exposure and disrupted sleep that can take a serious toll.
Here are the 10 most stressful jobs of 2025 and their stress scores:
- Flight attendants: 91.12
- Service unit operators, oil and gas: 88.65
- Hoist and winch operators: 87.50
- Wind turbine service technicians: 87.06
- Rotary drill operators, oil and gas: 87.01
- Firefighters: 86.95
- Derrick operators, oil and gas: 86.57
- Helpers for extraction workers: 85.01
- Tank car, truck, and ship loaders: 84.89
- Millwrights [machinists for large equipment]: 84.80
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