Career Options that Are the Most and Least Physically Demanding

Looking for a job or career often means basing a decision on the income you can expect that job or career to generate. Of course, not everybody is going to make such an important life decision as what career to shoot for based entirely on money. Your physical stature, strength and capability of putting up with exertion may come into play when you are looking for a job to pursue. If this is the case, then you will probably want to know what jobs are the most and least physically demanding.

Most Physically Demanding Jobs

If you have a physique that should be carved into stone and are looking for a job that places supreme demands upon your level of fitness, then you should pursue one of a handful of jobs. Obviously, the career of some kind of athlete may stimulate your interest, but just because you are capable of blasting a fastball out of Yankee Stadium doesn't necessarily mean you are interested in doing so. Strength and the ability to put up with physical demands also don't necessarily mean you have a talent or aptitude for sports. Athletics aside, you can still put your muscles to good use by choosing an appropriate career.

Firefighter

Among the most physically demanding careers available is that of the firefighter. These genuine heroes don't get paid nearly as much as they should, but the respect that is due rose quite substantially following the events of September 11, 2001. Firefighters face significant demands upon their physical limitations; it has been reported that the 100 pounds of equipment they carry into battle against the flames means that it would take them several hours just to climb the stairs to the same height as where the epicenter of the fires in the World Trade Center towers were located. If you don't have strength of body, mind and character, don't consider a job as a firefighter.

Farmer

The physical demands of the farmer in the 21^st century are not nearly as great as they were at the close of the 19^th century, but don't go thinking that being a farmer is an easy job. Planting, sowing, reaping, harvesting and everything in between are not tasks suitable for someone who gets tired of walking back and forth between the couch and refrigerator as a teenager. Physical demands placed on the farmer even with all the high tech equipment at his disposal are such that this career choice is still not suitable for the overwhelming majority of those who inhabit America today.

Lumberjack

If you're a lumberjack and you're okay, that means you are in extremely healthy physical condition. Tear yourself away from "Ax Men" and head out to the great outdoors to get an authentic feel for this physically demanding career. Like the firefighter, it requires presence of mind and the physicality to follow through and like the farmer it requires a certain kind of commitment to physical endurance that the average American simply doesn't possess.

Least Physically Demanding Jobs

Don't go thinking that just because your job isn't physically demanding that it's any less deserving of respect than those that place a great deal of exertion upon the muscles. Jobs and careers that don't require much in the way of physical demands can still impact the world in a positive way. Besides, not everybody is cut out for those types of jobs requiring cut bodies.

Accountant

While the career of accountant places no identifying marks upon the size of your biceps or thigh muscles, you must be well equipped within the cranium. An accountant is better equipped with a soft bottom than a barrel chest since you will spend much of your time in this career sitting in a chair.

News Anchor

Journalists who hit the ground running need to be in pretty good shape to track down a hot story. Those men and women whose job is to look good and speak clearly do not face the same kinds of physical demands. If you've got good looks, can refrain from sweating beneath hot studio lights, sound halfway intelligent and don't necessarily look like you could last five seconds in the ring with Urkel, then you just might want to consider one of the least physically demanding careers in America: that of news anchor.

Judge

The career of judge isn't usually one that immediately springs to mind. Most people start out wanting to be a lawyer and then smoothly transition behind the bench. That place behind the bench can be quite comfortable and most judges need only have the strength to bang the gavel. If you've got a long term commitment to a job that isn't particularly physically demanding, then you should definitely consider the career path that ends with your sitting in the place of honor in a courtroom. Even better: you may make it all the way to the Supreme Court where even physically unimposing figures like Scalia, O'Connor and Thomas can sit in sublime comfort while making arbitrary decisions that subject the country to eight years of idiotic rule.