Seven High-Paying Jobs That Most People Don’t Need
The term “high income” is a moving target: jobs that once allowed people to afford a good lifestyle may lose their luster over time as inflation and other economic forces conspire to erode their value. For example, if you want to be among the top 10% richest people in the United States, you must earn at least $160,000 per year. That’s… a lot, considering the average income these days is around $60,000 .
If you’re trying to bridge that $100,000 gap, there are some amazing ways to make six figures , as well as some jobs that pay pretty well without requiring a degree . But if you really want to make money, you may have to think not only about getting away from the desk, but also about risking your dignity and perhaps your physical safety. The jobs on this list pay very well, but the high income comes at a price.
Fisherman
Whenever the topic of high-paying, dangerous work comes up, someone always mentions commercial fishing in Alaska. Is it dangerous? Well, when no one died in 2021, it was big enough news for the Alaska government to mention it , so here’s your answer. But in the short term, it can be incredibly lucrative: while the average annual income for a commercial fisherman overall is just $28,530, sailors working on boats in Alaska can earn up to $50,000 in a few months , and even children as young as , like this guy, can earn $100-$125 a day – he ended up making $7,000 in one summer. Most boats pay a percentage of profits rather than a salary, so earnings can vary widely, but you can definitely make a ton of money in a short time if you’re willing to work incredibly hard and deal with the dangers and harsh conditions. .
Whether that’s still true is a good question: Alaska’s fishing industry is in crisis and is cutting jobs instead of creating them, so finding a job there may not be as easy as it used to be. If you are interested and have some fishing or sailing experience, you can check out the Alaska Job Search board, and if you have no experience but want to check out this career, you can contact the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) about their training program .
Garbage collector
The average salary for garbage collectors varies from region to region: although the average salary was only $43,540 in 2022, garbage collectors in San Francisco could earn more than $72,000, and in some areas, such as New York City, garbage collectors can make good money . into six figures once overtime hits. So if you’re willing to do some of the dirtiest jobs in the world (as well as long shifts that often happen in the middle of the night), you really can make a good living.
Working on an oil rig
Oil rigs offer a career path that can lead to high earnings, but comes with significant dangers and separation from family and other aspects of your life. Starting as a Goon typically earns you a relatively modest salary of between $35,000 and $45,000, but promotion to Goon can increase your salary into the six-figure range in some cases. If you stick with this messy and dangerous career path, you can work your way up to Tool Pusher, where in some cases the maximum salary is close to $250,000 per year, although it can take decades to reach this goal.
Chartered Auditor
Certified public accountants can ultimately earn an average of over $122,000 per year . While you obviously need to be good with numbers and math (and love taxes ) to do this job, you might be surprised to learn that this is a job no one wants—as it turns out, there is a severe shortage of CPAs in this country. country, because becoming a CPA is actually very, very difficult. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you typically need to complete what’s called a ” 150-hour requirement ,” which is essentially two years of training before you can even take the exam, which in itself is no walk in the park. But if you can go through this process, you have the potential to earn a very high income.
Solid Waste Manager
If the phrase “sold waste” makes you wince, you already know why no one wants to be a solid waste manager . As you can imagine, this job primarily involves the proper collection, treatment, and disposal of waste from cities and organizations, which may include some, uh, hands-on work in landfills or with hazardous materials. But the average annual salary for this position is $121,755 , with a top salary approaching $160,000. The best part is that you don’t have to have a college degree to become one.
Gastroenterologist
It may seem strange to think that being a doctor could be on the list of professions that no one wants – everyone’s parents dream of their children becoming doctors, right? Of course, but then you realize what part of the body gastroenterologists deal with, and it all makes sense. Although gastroenterologists earn an average of $501,000 (that’s half a million dollars), the critical shortage is caused by both growing demand from an aging population and a shortage of new doctors specializing in the specialty.
While the unattractive nature of this job is likely due to the shortage of gastroenterologists, it can also be a very stressful job with long hours, high emotional impact, and very high burnout rates .
Truck driver
When you are looking for a job with a high salary, you are often offered truck driving. There is a huge demand for drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and trucking companies are so short of drivers that they are often willing to train you and help you get your CDL. And the job pays very well: while your salary varies by region and how you drive (the longer you’re willing to stay on the road, the more you get paid), some drivers’ salaries reach around $200,000 a year . Walmart advertises that their drivers can earn up to $100,000 in their first year .
However, there are also disadvantages. Driving a truck not only means long periods of time away from family, constant loneliness, and very high levels of stress, but also a very sedentary lifestyle that can have a serious negative impact on your health. Whether those six-figure sums are worth it is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.