12 Most Overrated Jobs

They may have high salaries, power and prestige, but senior corporate executives, surgeons and physicians were ranked among the most overrated jobs in a new report from CareerCast.com. CareerCast.com's Overrated Jobs report identifies careers that have intense stress, higher than average physical demands, and a weak or unsteady hiring and employment outlook, both now and in the future.

"While many of our overrated jobs pay well or carry a certain amount of cachet, they also have a downside," says Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. "Our most overrated career -- senior corporate executive -- earns an average of $161,141.00 per year, but it holds the top spot as most overrated due to its high stress, shaky stability and consistently long hours that affect family time."

CareerCast's Overrated Jobs Report pinpoints careers that the rest of world perceives as great, but the truth is somewhat different. A surgeon's high salary may not compensate for the stress of being responsible for the lives of others, the long hours and the physical demands of lengthy surgeries. And physicians, who earn an average of $192,065 per year, face increased regulation, lower compensation and the need to constantly stay abreast of medical developments in order to diagnose conditions and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Rounding out the list of most overrated jobs are psychiatrist, commercial airline pilot, attorney, architect, stockbroker, real estate agent, photojournalist, flight attendant and advertising account executive. Many of these jobs are overrated due to a weak hiring demand, high stress and long hours.

A job that's overrated doesn't mean it fails to serve an important function in our society. In fact, these jobs play an integral role in our workplace. It's just that the hype surrounding them sometimes makes these jobs sound much better than they really are.

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