As more people prioritize a healthy balance between work and life, the quest for the best jobs for work-life balance will always be a hot topic.
In part one of our Work Life Balance Series, I discuss some of the perks workers are looking for in a job. Most want flexible schedules (the option to work a day or two remotely), more time off, limits on cell phone availability, child or pet care options, and family/employee events.
To help you find a job that may be a good fit for you, we cover the best jobs for work life balance, with median salaries and balance ratings.
Work Life Balance Statistics: Why It Matters
According to a recent survey on workplace stress, 76 percent said that stress at work has a negative impact on personal relationships. Additionally, 66 percent have lost sleep due to stress at work, while 16 percent say they have quit a job because of stress.
Stress reduces motivation, which stifles creativity and innovation. In the United States, 30 percent of workers report being highly engaged in their current job. A 2017 Gallup study shows that only 15 percent of workers worldwide are highly engaged in and enthusiastic about their work and employers.
Working long hours gives the perception of productivity. Studies show that a work-life balance leads to happier, healthier, more productive employees and higher retention levels. Employees who feel they have a good work-life balance have been shown to work 21 percent harder than those who don’t.
A common misconception is that reducing an employee’s workload will also reduce stress. However, a survey by the Korn Ferry Institute reports that 79 percent of participants expressed that not having enough work is more stressful than having too much. With 74 percent saying they would rather take on a heavier workload and receive more compensation.
These research findings make it clear that finding a job that allows for work life balance matters to the majority of workers. Which is why it should matter to employers as well.
21 Best Jobs for Work Life Balance
- Project Analyst – Median salary: $60,000. Work-life balance rating: 3.8
- Data Analyst – Median salary: $65,694. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- Technical Editor – Median salary: $61,486. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- Content Manager – Median salary: $73,909. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- Web Designer – Median salary: $61,198. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- PHP Developer – Median salary: $79,923. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- Social Media Manager – Median salary: $54,908. Work/life balance rating: 3.8
- Library Assistant – Median salary: $28,929. Work/life balance rating: 3.
- Substitute Teacher – Median salary: $25,178. Work/life balance rating: 3.9
- Scrum Master – Median salary: $89,428. Work/life balance rating: 3.9
- Marketing Analyst – Median salary: $65,000. Work/life balance rating: 3.9
- Research Engineer – Median salary: $103,209. Work/life balance rating: 3.9
- DevOps Engineer – Median salary: $110,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- Mobile Developer – Median salary: $101,398. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
Technical - Account Manager – Median salary: $75,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- Recruiting Coordinator – Median salary: $48,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- UI Designer – Median salary: $84,500. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- Strategy Manager – Median salary: $110,487. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- Data Scientist – Median salary: $112,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.0
- UX Designer – Median salary: $98,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.1
- Corporate Recruiter – Median salary: $65,000. Work/life balance rating: 4.1
Other Jobs for Good Work Life Balance
We wanted to add a few more jobs that we think offer a good work-life balance. Of course, we’re a little biased toward real estate.
Teacher
Having been a former teacher, I can attest to the work life balance teaching can offer. I remember people saying, “teachers get the whole summer off, what could be better?” And while that’s a huge perk (honestly, at the top of my list), teaching can be extremely time-consuming, if you allow it to be. Once I got my lessons down, I could usually leave around 3pm everyday. Add all the holiday’s, winter and spring breaks, etc., a teacher’s work and life is quite appealing.
Information Technology (IT)
Many IT jobs offer a variety of shifts and flexible schedules, while others don’t require on-call hours. In the IT world, it’s common to have the freedom to work remotely. And even better, IT workers are needed in every industry, so the demand is consistently high.
Real Estate
Jobs in real estate vary quite a bit based on your role, industry, and demand. Real estate agents do a bit of everything, from finding and showing homes, to brokering. For someone like a real estate investor, their duties will require demands like finding the right markets and running the numbers to ensure a positive ROI.
The great news is that most real estate jobs offer a lot of flexibility. You can be your own boss, build your own schedule, and even hire a virtual assistant to outsource some of the work.
Worst Jobs for Work Life Balance
Just to give a final perspective, here’s a list of some notoriously bad jobs for achieving work life balance. Most of these jobs have a nice median salary, which can be appealing. Just remember that the cost is likely your personal life. But if that’s your jam, more power to you!
- Lawyer – Median salary: $119,250
- Surgeon – Median salary: $208,000
- Pharmacist – Median salary: $124,170
- CEO – Median salary: $183,270
- Retail Salesperson – Median salary: $23,370
- Tour Guide – Median salary: $24,920
- Restaurant and Beverage Worker – Median salary: (cook) $23,970; (server) $20,820; (supervisors) $52,030
- Reporter – Median salary: $40,910
- Truck Driver – Median salary: $42,480
- Fitness Instructor – Median salary: $39,210
Final Thoughts
This concludes part 2 of our series. If finding the best jobs for work life balance is a high priority to you, make it happen. There are plenty of jobs out there that can offer balance so you can have a personal life. Hopefully, one or two jobs listed piqued your interest and maybe even pushed you to change.
