Quick answer: Computer Network Professionals are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #299 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 38.6/100 against a national average of 47.4.
Computer Network Professionals stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands27.7 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden54.1 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands55 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control23.2 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony55.8 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment16 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for computer network professionals
The occupation scores below the national average for physical environment (16 vs 38.2), precision and monotony (55.8 vs 67.7) and emotional demands (27.7 vs 37.9), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for computer network professionals
- 1Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
76.2/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 2Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
75/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 3Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
75/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 4Pace and demands
Level of Competition
67/100
All-occupation average: 52.4
- 5Responsibility burden
Coordinate or Lead Others
63.8/100
All-occupation average: 64.9
All 22 stress factors for computer network professionals
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
27.7 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People5.8 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People30.8 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations46.5 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
54.1 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results54.5 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety27.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results75 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error50 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others63.8 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
55 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure59 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week75 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment11.2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making62.5 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition67 vs 52.4
Lack of control
23.2 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions23.8 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work22.8 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
55.8 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks35.2 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate76.2 vs 78.6
Physical environment
16 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable23.8 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting9 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures8 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections0 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity39.2 vs 61.1
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Computer Network Professionals: how stressful is the job?
Computer Network Professionals rank #299 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 38.6/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 5.7% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for computer network professionals?
The highest-scoring hazards are importance of being exact or accurate (76.2/100), impact of decisions on co-workers or company results (75/100) and duration of typical work week (75/100).
Which stress factors are lower for computer network professionals?
Computer Network Professionals score below the national average for emotional demands (27.7 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (54.1 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (55 vs 56 average) and lack of control (23.2 vs 24.5 average) and precision and monotony (55.8 vs 67.7 average) and physical environment (16 vs 38.2 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for computer network professionals. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.