Quick answer: Electrical Engineers are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #273 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 40.8/100 against a national average of 47.4.
Electrical Engineers 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 demandsbelow average20.6 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burdenbelow average57 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demandsbelow average54.5 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control78.1 vs 75.5 avg
- Precision and monotonybelow average64 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environmentbelow average26.6 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing (lack of control is shown on an inverted scale — see methodology). Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for electrical engineers
The occupation scores below the national average for emotional demands (20.6 vs 37.9), physical environment (26.6 vs 38.2) and precision and monotony (64 vs 67.7), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for electrical engineers
- 1Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
83.5/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 2Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
81.8/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 3Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
70.5/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 4Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
69.8/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
- 5Responsibility burden
Coordinate or Lead Others
65.2/100
All-occupation average: 64.9
All 22 stress factors for electrical engineers
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
20.6 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People1.2 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People24.2 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations36.2 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
57 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results63.2 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety40.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results70.5 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error45.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others65.2 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
54.5 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure62.8 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week83.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment8.2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making69.8 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition48.2 vs 52.4
Lack of control
78.1 vs 75.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions79.5 vs 76.4
- Amount of Highly Structured Work76.8 vs 74.7
Precision and monotony
64 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks46.2 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate81.8 vs 78.6
Physical environment
26.6 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable47.5 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting15 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures21.8 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections0.5 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity48.2 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.
The two control-related variables are derived from SafeWork's “freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”. Control scores are displayed on an inverted scale relative to the other five categories: the composite stress score incorporates 100 minus the displayed control values.
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
Electrical Engineers: how stressful is the job?
Electrical Engineers rank #273 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 40.8/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 13.9% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for electrical engineers?
The highest-scoring hazards are duration of typical work week (83.5/100), importance of being exact or accurate (81.8/100) and impact of decisions on co-workers or company results (70.5/100).
Which stress factors are lower for electrical engineers?
Electrical Engineers score below the national average for emotional demands (20.6 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (57 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (54.5 vs 56 average) and precision and monotony (64 vs 67.7 average) and physical environment (26.6 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 electrical engineers. 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.