# Quick! What's a high-training, low-risk profession? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230 "2011-01-11T16:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/1 "2011-01-11T16:54:51Z")
What springs to your mind as a good example of a profession with little personal risk or risk to those served by the professional, but many years of training? For the purposes of this question, please leave out anything having to do with education (e.g., history professor) even though there’s lots of good ones there. Need answer(s) fast! ETA: Bonus points for any profession in which EVEN IF YOU DO IT WRONG there’s little risk to anyone, but you still need years of training. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/2 "2011-01-11T16:59:51Z")
Architect. usually a college degree, a certain amount of internship, and a series of exams. Some may have a masters. Attorney, depending on what you do, because som specialties can be dangerous but not all of them. Being a matrimonial attorney can be dangerous, being a corporate finance attorney, less so. In the US you need a undergraduate degree, a 3-year JD, and a licensing exam. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/3 "2011-01-11T17:04:38Z")
Jesuit. I think it’s like seven years of study AFTER the Ph.d, and most are researchers in fairly abstract fields, so they aren’t mis-ministering to a flock. ETA: Some are teachers, but not all. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/4 "2011-01-11T17:06:00Z")
I would say an actuary. Up to 8 years of exams! Or a weatherman. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/5 "2011-01-11T17:07:43Z")
Auto mechanic (= auto technician). Takes many years to get proficient, also requires considerable investment in tools. No bonus points if brake work is being done. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/6 "2011-01-11T17:16:11Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Auto mechanic (= auto technician). Takes many years to get proficient, also requires considerable investment in tools. > > No bonus points if brake work is being done. ☹ Are you serious? You have to get under a car and poke around electronics and moving parts every day. And if you fuck up, someone dies. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/7 "2011-01-11T17:18:35Z")
Actuarial science. I went to business school with several people who chose that field specifically because it was considered to be a very low-stress field (once you got into it, at least), and it paid pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/8 "2011-01-11T17:37:43Z")
Cool beans, all of you. I think I’m going with “actuary” and “finance attorney” as my examples. Thank you! (I might be able to add more later, so if you think of anything, it’s not useless to me to post it here even now.) ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/9 "2011-01-11T17:55:42Z")
Librarian. (requires a MS or if you’re on a management track, preference is given to people with BOTH an MBA and an MS). Not quite as much work as an actuary (which was my first thought) but it’s a shit-ton of schooling for essentially learning how to pick books which will benefit a community and/or a specific person’s needs. (and yes, I’m pitting my own profession here.) I’m not so sure about architects and civil engineers - people can die if buildings or roadways collapse, and septic/sewer/water treatment systems are designed by civil engineers - those are kindof important to public health. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/10 "2011-01-11T19:03:19Z")
Statistician. The PhD is generally regarded as the entry level degree even for people who aren’t going into academia. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/11 "2011-01-11T19:28:45Z")
Opera singer. Really, any high level musician. Years of training, ton of work, but no one’s gonna die if you crack on the high note. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/12 "2011-01-11T20:17:38Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Opera singer. Really, any high level musician. Years of training, ton of work, but no one’s gonna die if you crack on the high note. Hmmn. What type of musician is likely to have had the longest formal training, would you say? Orchestra conductor, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/13 "2011-01-11T21:24:12Z")
[This recent list](http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/2011-ranking-200-jobs-best-worst) shows stress levels and pay for jobs. You can infer training for some of them. Actuary and Statistician are 3rd and 4th “best” jobs on their list. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/14 "2011-01-11T21:31:15Z")
Wow. I just read the Wikipedia article on Actuarial Science. No offense to any actuaries on this board, but it looks like a dreadfully boring job. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/15 "2011-01-11T22:42:05Z")
Musical instrument repair. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/16 "2011-01-11T22:51:40Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > Hmmn. What type of musician is likely to have had the longest formal training, would you say? Orchestra conductor, maybe? Orchestra conductor is probably going to be the one that takes the longest to really get to the highest level, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/17 "2011-01-11T23:02:40Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Wow. I just read the Wikipedia article on Actuarial Science. No offense to any actuaries on this board, but it looks like a dreadfully boring job. Having been doing it now for 25+ years, I can assure you that you are wrong. The money’s great, but people wouldn’t slog their way through the gruelling qualification process if the work wasn’t also interesting. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/18 "2011-01-11T23:14:00Z")
I’ll bet it’s more interesting in Australia, where you have to account for “risk of being killed by a box jellyfish” or “kicked in the face by a kangaroo.” ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/19 "2011-01-11T23:17:03Z")
corporate CPA works too–master’s degree, a hard test to pass, and continuing education throughout your career–and no one dies if you make a bad accounting entry ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230/20 "2011-01-12T01:34:46Z")
Professional video-game player. I’m half-serious. Some people do make this a career, and they train and work damn hard at it. Still, nobody is going to be injured if your zerg rush fails. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-whats-a-high-training-low-risk-profession/567230.md?page=2)