Make your paycheck work for you.
While most of us know that if we want to rake in some serious dough we can go into STEM or finance fields, there are plenty of jobs that are unexpectedly high paying (spoiler alert: did you know that some elevator installers and repairers rake in more than $120,000 a year?) that have nothing to do with that.
“Jobs tend to pay very well for a variety of reasons,” says Brie Reynolds, a senior career specialist at FlexJobs. Beyond just the obvious jobs that require advanced degrees, it may be that “a certain type of job may have grown in demand recently, maybe over the last five or so years, making those fields more competitive and allowing professionals in them to command a higher wage,” she explains. “The job may also involve a higher degree of risk on behalf of the professional, or may require a higher degree of trust between the employer and professional.”
Whatever the reasons, MarketWatch looked at surprising jobs where you can make a lot of money. Here are nine.
Funeral service manager
As a funeral service manager you “plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which “includes activities such as determining prices for services or merchandise and managing the facilities of funeral homes.” The average pay is nearly $94,000, government data shows that the top 25% of earners earn a median of more than $110,000 and the top 10% earn over $151,000. You typically need a related college degree to land this gig.
Elevator installer and repairer
In this role, you will “install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes. And the pay is nothing to sniff at. Median annual pay is about $80,000, but the highest 10% of earners raked in more than $121,200. Typically you will learn this job through an apprenticeship.
Captain
Ahoy, highly-paid matey! Captains, mates and pilots of water vessels “command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.” To get this job, you will need a license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. That’s worth it if you want big earnings: While the average pay is $82,000, the top 25% of earners make upwards of $100,000 and the top 10% make more than $144,000, government data reveals.
Anesthesiologist Assistant
When we asked career site Payscale to identify unexpectedly high paying jobs, anethesiologist assistant — in which you help anesthesiologists administer anesthesia and monitor patients –topped their list with a median salary of $134,000. And you don’t need to be an M.D. to get it. You will, however, need to complete a roughly two year certification program after you get your bachelor’s. On a related noted, physician’s assistants can rake in big bucks too, with a median salary of more than $108,000, according to government data — as well as robust job prospects.
Prison warden
It might not be the most glamorous job, but it pays. Payscale notes that prison wardens — who supervise and manage correctional facilities — make a median of about $101,000. Often prison wardens have a degree in criminal justice or something related but that’s not always required.
Mediator, arbitrator or conciliator
If you’re a good listener and problem solver, this may be the gig for you. In it, you will help disputing parties communicate and negotiate so they can resolve their issues without having to go to court.
While the median wage for this gig is $62,270, some mediators make almost double that, with the highest 10% of earners raking in more than $124,480. You typically land jobs like this through “a combination of education, training, and work experience,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals.
Postmaster and mail superintendent
Snag this government job and you can make some serious dough. In this role, you will “plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals.
And you can make bank doing it: The average salary is $77,040, and if you’re in the top 25% of earners, you’ll make about $85,000, and in the top 10% you’ll rake in nearly $94,000 a year. You will need at least a high school degree, and a college degree is helpful in landing this job.
Air traffic controller
No doubt this gig is stressful — you’ll be coordinating planes taking off, flying and landing safely — but you can easily make over $100,000 a year. Indeed, government data shows that the median annual salary is $124,540. Plus, the number of jobs is expected to grow about 3% through 2026.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that while you typically need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program, “other applicants must have 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, have completed 4 years of college, or have a combination of both.”
Pilot
Pilots make a median of $115,670 per year, according to government data. To land the gig, you typically need a high school degree and a commercial pilot’s license from the FAA.
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