Behind The Fancy Paychecks
Earning a six-figure salary sounds like a milestone worth chasing. Yet, for many, getting there comes with unexpected baggage. It turns out that some of the highest-paying careers are also the ones most people dread. Stressful environments and emotional fatigue are more common than most admit. In this roundup, you’ll discover 20 well-compensated jobs that consistently land among the roles people love to hate.
1. Investment Banker
In finance circles, the role commands prestige and a paycheck to match. Investment bankers earn over $130,000 annually, yet it comes at a steep price. The job is consistently ranked among the most stressful, due to grueling 80+ hour weeks and a work culture that accelerates burnout.
2. Corporate Lawyer
With a median salary of $144,000, many corporate lawyers report dissatisfaction early in their careers. The pressure to bill massive hours disrupts any attempt at work-life balance. In large firms, junior associates burn out fast—more than half of freshers leave within three years.
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3. Surgeon
Surgeons operate in high-stakes environments where every decision carries serious consequences. Long hours and life-or-death responsibilities are a routine part of the job. Despite its prestige and rewards, the average salary of around $230,000 comes at a steep personal cost.
4. Petroleum Engineer
Engineers in this field can make around $135,000 annually while working in remote or hazardous locations. The profession is marked by isolation and long stints away from home. Add in volatile oil markets, and job security becomes uncertain.
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5. Pharmacist
The role demands precision but offers little variety, leading many to describe the work as monotonous. Advancement is often slow, and emotional fatigue is common. Due to these challenges, the profession offers a solid average salary of $137,000 per year.
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6. Tech Sales Executive
The earning ceiling is high: $157,000 average, especially in software or SaaS sales. However, few roles bring pressure and instability like this one. Many professionals express disillusionment, citing a lack of purpose despite the pay and perks.
7. Dentist
Dentists face a unique blend of pressures. While the work is financially rewarding (around $245,000 annual salary), the job requires more than just clinical expertise. The physical toll of long procedures and patient anxiety builds over time, which contributes to high rates of burnout and depression within the field.
8. Actuary
Working with risk pays well—that’s why actuaries make about $125,000 annually. But the job’s solitary, data-heavy nature wears on many. It’s common to hear complaints of monotony and minimal collaboration. Surprisingly, overall satisfaction rates in the profession remain relatively low compared to other white-collar fields.
9. IT Project Manager
Managing people and timelines is a well-paying, strategic role. The reality? It’s often chaotic. IT project managers average $131,000 a year while fielding pressure from all directions. When things go wrong, the blame lands squarely on them. The role is notorious for layoffs, due to its high visibility and constant firefighting.
10. Private Equity Associate
Private equity associates step into a high-pressure world where deal flow never stops and expectations are unyielding. The environment is known for aggressive oversight and little tolerance for mistakes. Compensation is steep from the outset, with starting packages often exceeding $244,000.
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11. Software Engineer
Despite a median salary of $147,000 with generous equity, software engineers struggle with their roles and identity. Many employees describe feeling like “interchangeable parts in sprawling tech systems.” Their performance is constantly scrutinized through reviews and internal metrics. So, a growing number leave mid-career.
12. Corporate Tax Attorney
Corporate tax attorneys usually find themselves buried in highly technical legal work, far removed from meaningful client interaction. The role demands long hours of document-heavy analysis under constant deadline pressure. While many stay for financial reasons, the median income of $134,000 rarely offsets the growing sense of dissatisfaction.
13. Anesthesiologist
Earning over $521,000 annually, anesthesiologists top many salary charts. However, the role is intensely high-stakes: one small mistake can have fatal consequences. Moreover, anesthesiologists often work alone, face limited patient interaction and long periods of intense concentration, all under pressure.
14. Entertainment Attorney
Behind red carpets and Hollywood deals lies a demanding and draining career. Entertainment attorneys, who earn around $121,000 or more, handle stressful contract negotiations and litigation. The environment is incredibly risky due to high-profile clients and very sensitive issues.
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15. Hospital Administrator
Hospital administrators typically earn around $115,594 annually, depending on their level of seniority and the region. The role requires constant decision-making under risks and pressure, often with ethical implications that weigh heavily. Internal politics and staff management further add to the complexity.
16. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The role of Chief Financial Officer demands nonstop oversight, from shaping sustainable strategies to justifying short-term financial shifts. Pressure flows from boards and internal stakeholders, which leaves little margin for error. A yearly salary of $356,000 might be the only reason some CFOs choose to stay long-term.
17. Data Scientist
With an average income of $112,000, data science attracts talented people with analytical minds. However, the reality often clashes with expectations. Many employees report dissatisfaction due to poor data quality, vague business goals, and changing priorities. So, they often leave this profession, searching for more flexible or creative fields.
18. Radiologist
Radiologists spend much of their time reviewing complex medical images in quiet, dimly lit settings with minimal interaction. Interpreting potentially life-altering scans adds a layer of unrelenting pressure. Though highly respected and well-compensated (nearly $287,000), the role comes with a high risk of burnout.
19. Management Consultant
Management consultants rake in an average of $140,000 annually, often working with elite firms and Fortune 500 clients. But behind the prestige lies a lifestyle many quietly resent. The job demands constant travel, unpredictable hours, and relentless pressure to deliver results in unfamiliar industries.
20. Game Developer
For many game developers, the job that starts as a passion project quickly shifts into a cycle of extreme pressure. Studios often enforce “crunch time,” where weeks of unpaid overtime become the norm before major releases. As “fair compensation,” top studios tend to offer salaries exceeding $108,000.
