Whether you love your job or not, you still need free time away from work. Millions of people are looking for work-life balance, more now than ever. According to a Spring Health survey from 2020, about three-quarters of all employees have felt burned out. One way to avoid burnout is to land one of the best work-life balance jobs.
Work-life balance means something different to everyone, but for most people the best careers for work-life balance allow you to leave work at work and have two days off per week. This article will give you information about what work-life balance is, the best jobs for work-life balance, and what companies have a balanced work culture.
What Is Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance is having enough time to attend to both your work and personal life duties, including having time to socialize and relax. A good work-life balance job means you are paid well and you can take time off for relaxation.
Ultimately, achieving a perfect balance between work and home is the goal. To achieve this, there are a few tips you need to know. You don’t have to love your career, or be working your dream job to meet the definition of work-life balance, but you should feel generally positive toward your work.
Work-life balance is important because it gives you the stability to set goals and work towards them in your professional and personal life. It also means you need to learn to disconnect from work when you are off the clock and allow yourself to focus on personal activities, like family time and catching up with friends.
10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Work-Life Balance
| Job Title | Average Salary | Top 10% Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Marketing Manager | $135,030 | $208,000+ |
| Software Developer | $120,730 | $168,570+ |
| Data Scientist | $100,910 | $167,040+ |
| Management Analyst | $93,000 | $163,760+ |
| Accountant | $77,250 | $128,680+ |
| Web Developer | $77,030 | $129,760+ |
| Landscape Architect | $67,950 | $115,380+ |
| Marketing Analyst | $63,920 | $128,320+ |
| Human Resource Specialist | $62,290 | $108,160+ |
| Fitness Instructor | $40,700 | $75,940+ |
The best work-life balance careers listed above are in a wide range of industries, offering many possibilities for you to find a job that fits your interests. The best work-life balance jobs can be full-time jobs, part-time positions, or freelance gigs with flexible hours. We’ll cover each role in detail below.
Digital Marketing Manager
Digital marketing managers design, manage, and execute digital marketing campaigns for long-term and short-term promotional strategies. Some key responsibilities are increasing brand awareness and drawing in consumers to create sales for a business.
Becoming a digital marketer often requires a college degree, but you can also land this role by attending a bootcamp. This is a high-paying job with good work-life balance because there is an opportunity for a more flexible schedule by negotiating remote work with your employer or by working as a freelancer.
Software Developer
A software developer designs, enhances, and maintains various software systems in a business. Day-to-day work includes fixing bugs, brainstorming criteria for new software, and catering to users’ needs. Software developers write code in one or more of the most popular coding languages, like Java, C++, or Python.
This job typically requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. This career is satisfying for people who like problem-solving and logic. It can be a job with work-life balance because it’s easy to do remotely. However, some projects have tight deadlines that might require you to work extra hours for weeks at a time.
Data Scientist
Data scientists investigate large data sets to find patterns and discover useful insights. They can work with a wide range of data such as marketing and sales data, medical data, climate data, or political data. You can become a data scientist with a degree in computer science or statistics. Some people also find success in data science after attending a data science bootcamp.
Data scientists can work as employees or freelancers. In most cases, they can work from anywhere with an Internet connection. It makes our list of best work-life balance jobs because data scientists’ work schedules are flexible and pay well.
Management Analyst
A management analyst looks at a company’s management team to determine how they can improve. They collect, analyze, and present data to show their findings. A management analyst needs to make big-picture decisions. You typically need an MBA or other type of business degree to work as a management analyst.
Most management analysts are freelance workers who work as consultants for multiple clients. They have a lot of control over their schedules, and, with the right clients, this can be a high-paying job with work-life balance.
Accountant
An accountant keeps and decodes financial data. They use skills in analysis, reporting, knowledge of taxing, and managerial and cost accounting for private clients or businesses. Accountants can work in almost any industry, including law firms, hospitality, and government agencies.
To work as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you’ll need an accounting bachelor’s degree. However, there are a few states that allow people to pass the CPA exam and operate without a degree. Accountants usually work a 40-hour work week, without too much overtime.
Web Developer
A web developer designs and codes apps and websites and maintains them with updates. Web developers usually work with user experience (UX) designers to ensure satisfied users while also maintaining the business’s goals and the demands of clients.
Some developer positions may require a bachelor’s degree, but technical skills can be learned pretty quickly with coding bootcamps. There are plenty of opportunities to work remotely, either as an employee or contractor.
Landscape Architect
Landscape architects design plantings, hardscapes, and irrigation for residential and commercial properties. They need to understand local zoning laws, know about ornamental plants, and have a strong sense of aesthetics and design.
This is one of the best work-life balance jobs because landscape architects can usually finish their projects during a normal 40-hour work week. There might be occasional overtime to complete a large project by a deadline, but overall this is a low-stress career for people who love plants and design.
Marketing Analyst
A marketing analyst tracks and predicts marketing and sales patterns. They develop and analyze different ways of collecting data and evaluating the success of strategic marketing campaigns. These experts use statistical software to analyze consumers, competitors, and markets to decode complicated data and prepare reports for a business.
Sometimes a degree is needed to become a marketing analyst. However, most colleges and universities don’t offer specific undergraduate degrees for this role. This is another one of the best jobs for work-life balance that uses creative and technical skills and has options for flexible work schedules.
Human Resource Specialist
A human resource (HR) specialist sources, screens, and recommends appropriate candidates for open positions within their company, using skills in communication and marketing. They are also responsible for a company’s payroll, benefits, and conflict resolution.
Most human resources specialists have at least a human resources bachelor’s degree. Predictable hours and stable employment make human resources specialists one of the jobs with the best work-life balance. This career usually comes with steady pay raises and opportunities for advancement.
Fitness Instructor
A fitness instructor helps their clients improve their fitness or recover from an injury. They work for gyms or for private clients. This is one of the best jobs for work-life balance because it’s easy to leave work at work and maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life.
You don’t need a degree to become a fitness instructor, but becoming a certified personal trainer will help you get jobs and earn a higher salary. This is a great career for outgoing people with positive attitudes who love exercising.
Tips for Finding Work-Life Balance
The list of jobs with a good work-life balance above are just suggestions. The key to work-life balance is to choose a role that engages you and gives you enough free time to enjoy your personal life. Here are some tips for finding a job with good work-life balance:
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- Decide what work-life balance is right for you. Decide how much time you want to dedicate to work and your personal life. Maybe you want to work afternoons and evenings, or you might want to work the typical nine-to-five office job.
- Prioritize your health. You need to be healthy to attend to both personal and work-related duties, so prioritize your health and take it seriously. If you don’t respect your health, others won’t either, whether you work on-site or remotely.
- Take breaks. Make sure you take short breaks throughout the day to stay focused and productive, as well as to keep from feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Be sure not to work during your breaks, whether you’re working at home or in the office.
- Be disciplined and work towards goals. Manage your performance by setting goals for yourself, prioritizing tasks to complete, and monitoring your progress. This will help you successfully complete tasks. Additionally, having a designated workspace when working from home is an important part of staying disciplined as a remote worker.
- Talk to your superiors. Managing expectations is an important part of maintaining your work-life balance. Communicate honestly with your manager about what is possible in terms of your ability to achieve deadlines, instead of accepting unrealistic deadlines.
Companies That Are Known for Work-Life Balance
- Acuity Insurance. Acuity is an insurance company that offers property and loss of property insurance for individuals and businesses throughout the US. Acuity Insurance was ranked the company with the best work-life balance by its employees, according to a report from Glassdoor, due to flexible schedules and good benefits packages.
- Digital Prospectors. Digital Prospectors is a medium-sized staffing and recruiting business that employs between 50 and 200 people. Employees rated this company highly for work-life balance because of good pay and strong support for remote employees.
- CoverMyMeds. CoverMyMeds is a healthcare IT services and consulting business in the US. Work-life balance at CoverMyMeds is rated 4.8 out of five stars on Glassdoor because of flexible hours, provided home office equipment, and good benefits.
- Blue Raven Solar. This company is a large solar energy company based in Utah. Reviews from Blue Raven Solar employees who work in sales note that you can choose the number of hours you want to work and set your own schedule.
- Zoom Video Communications. Zoom landed at number 19 on Glassdoor’s list of companies with the best work-life balance. Work-from-home employees reported that Zoom trusts its remote workers, and there are a lot of Zoom meetings to keep remote teams connected.
Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance FAQ
Work-life balance is important because your personal life is more important than your career. A job is a way to make the money you need to live comfortably, not the reason for living. The importance of work-life balance can’t be overstated. If you don’t have a good work-life balance, it’s easier for your employer to exploit you.
What jobs in tech have the best life work balance?
Tech jobs at large companies typically have better work-life balance than tech jobs at start-ups or small companies. If you are looking for a job with a good work-life balance, you should avoid companies with a culture of hustling to meet tight deadlines. Look for a team that is well organized and has established workflow processes.
Do I need a degree to get a job with a work-life balance?
No, you don’t need a degree to get a job with a healthy work-life balance. Some balanced careers require degrees, but not all of them. You can meet the education requirements for some opportunities with self-paced, flexible online bootcamps.
How much can I earn in a job with a work-life balance?
You can earn a decent annual salary in a job with a good work-life balance, depending on the hours you want to commit to working. Median salaries range from $40,700 to $135,030, and the top 10 percent of earners make between $75,940 and $208,000 per year.
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