Quick answer: Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #293 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 39.1/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are responsibility burden.
Other Natural and Physical Science 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 demands17.8 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden61 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands54.9 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control20.9 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony59.5 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment20.2 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for other natural and physical science professionals
Compared with the average Australian occupation, other natural and physical science professionals score furthest above the norm on responsibility burden (61 vs 60 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is importance of being exact or accurate at 81/100 — against an all-occupation average of 78.6.
The occupation scores below the national average for emotional demands (17.8 vs 37.9), physical environment (20.2 vs 38.2) and precision and monotony (59.5 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 other natural and physical science professionals
- 1Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
81/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 2Responsibility burden
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
71.5/100
All-occupation average: 57.3
- 3Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
71.5/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 4Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
66.8/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 5Pace and demands
Level of Competition
66.8/100
All-occupation average: 52.4
All 22 stress factors for other natural and physical science professionals
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
17.8 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People0 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People22.5 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations31 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
61 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results56 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety71.5 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results66.8 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error48.8 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others62 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
54.9 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure57.2 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week71.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment26.2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making52.5 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition66.8 vs 52.4
Lack of control
20.9 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions21.5 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work20.2 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
59.5 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks38 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate81 vs 78.6
Physical environment
20.2 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable38 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting7.2 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures12 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections1.2 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity42.8 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for other natural and physical science professionals map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Role Clarity →Whether workers clearly understand what is expected of them.
- Leadership →The quality and consistency of management behaviour at all levels.
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
Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals: how stressful is the job?
Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals rank #293 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 39.1/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 7.6% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for other natural and physical science professionals?
The highest-scoring hazards are importance of being exact or accurate (81/100), responsible for others' health and safety (71.5/100) and duration of typical work week (71.5/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in responsibility burden.
Which stress factors are lower for other natural and physical science professionals?
Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals score below the national average for emotional demands (17.8 vs 37.9 average) and pace and demands (54.9 vs 56 average) and lack of control (20.9 vs 24.5 average) and precision and monotony (59.5 vs 67.7 average) and physical environment (20.2 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 other natural and physical science 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.