Top 10 Most Stressful Jobs

Steep competition, long hours, and demanding schedules land the job of a real estate agent on this year's list of most stressful jobs.

The job of a real estate agent is considered one of the most stressful jobs you can have, according to CareerCast's 2010 Jobs Rated report, which analyzed the stress level of 200 professions.

As the economy has softened, competition among real estate agents has risen, which was a major factor in landing it on this year's list of top 10 most stressful jobs, according to the report.

The report noted: Real estate agents and brokers work long, erratic hours, spending much of their time showing properties to clients. They must be extremely independent, and able to handle sales quotas and deadline pressures.

In compiling its stress rankings, CareerCast accounted for such factors as work environment, competitiveness, and job risk. Overall stress scores ranged from the low 18.776 to 110.936. (Real estate agent had a 73.063 overall stress score.)

Here are the top 10 most stressful jobs in 2010, according to the report:

1. FirefighterStress score: 110.936Hours per day: 11Time pressure: Very highCompetition: Low

2. Corporate Executive (senior)Stress score: 108.625Hours per day: 11Time pressure: HighCompetition: High

3. Taxi DriverStress score: 100.491Hours per day: 9.5Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: Moderate

4. SurgeonStress score: 99.463Hours per day: 11Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: High

5. Police OfficerStress score: 93.893Hours per day: 9.5Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: Low

6. Commercial PilotStress score: 85.350Hours per day: 9Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: Low

7. Highway Patrol OfficerStress score: 80.651Hours per day: 9.5Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: Low

8. Public Relations OfficerStress score: 78.523Hours per day: 9Time pressure: HighCompetition: Very High

9. Advertising Account ExecutiveStress score: 74.555Hours per day: 9.5Time pressure: ModerateCompetition: Very High

10. Real Estate AgentStress score: 73.063Hours per Day: 9.5Time pressure: HighCompetition: Very High