Eight careers that actually pay more than you think

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Doctor, lawyers, celebs, and CEOs. When we hear these job titles, we know there's money in them… piles of it in many cases. But not all of us are cut out to be the next Mark Zuckerberg or Nicki Minaj. Does this mean that high-paying careers are not in our futures? Not so. While most of us will never make Dr. Phil-level cash, there are plenty of careers that pay surprisingly well.

These eight jobs are varied and interesting, falling all over the map when it comes to creativity, compassion, hard work, and handiness. No matter where you live, there is promise for a career that is motivating and money-making. Broaden your horizons with these eight well-paying positions.

Medical Writer

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If you are interested in the medical field from a technical aspect rather than a hands-on approach like a doctor, nurse, or surgeon, consider becoming a medical writer. According to Job Hero, "The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10 percent increase in jobs for all technical writers, including Medical Writers, by 2024." With demand comes supply, meaning potentially more money for those who choose to enter this detail-oriented and highly important field.

As per Study.com, "Companies and institutions that hire medical writers need professionals who offer a dynamic union between scientific medical knowledge and written communication skills. Hospitals, academic medical centers, pharmaceutical companies and science publications and websites are potential employers."

Study.com adds that you will need a bachelor's or master's degree in English or journalism as well as writing/editorial skills, medical field knowledge, ability to conduct research, and regulation and approval processes.

According to Glassdoor, "The national average salary for a Medical Writer is $82,641."

Paralegal

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You don't have to become an attorney to be involved in the legal profession in an important and significant way. The paralegal is an intricate member of nearly any legal team, and the pay is good.

As explained by The Balance, "Paralegals, also known as legal assistants, are individuals who are trained to assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. They work in law firms, corporations, the government and other practice environments and must operate under the supervision of a lawyer. Paralegals assist attorneys in resolving lawsuits, and as such, their duties are diverse."

According to Learn How to Become, "The most-common educational path to becoming a paralegal includes an Associate degree. These two-year programs are offered through community colleges, universities, or online, and teach the basic skills and knowledge required of an entry-level paralegal or legal assistant. A four-year bachelor's degree in paralegal studies may be a requirement for paralegal positions with major law firms, government legal departments or in corporate law.

"The median annual paralegal salary is $53,651, as of January 30, 2018, with a range usually between $47,440 - $60,577," according to Salary.com.

Social Media Manager

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When we think of social media, posting pics to Instagram or "tweeting" about current events comes to mind. But for a marketing-minded business, the role of social media manager is highly valued to get word about their brand out to the public, gain customers, and make money. And with that, the social media manager will make a nice living for themselves.

ZipRecruiter explains, "As a social media manager, you will update social networks and curate content to gain new followers. You will also create new social marketing campaigns, build brand recognition, and manage all published company content. While working with web analytic tools to track campaign progress and researching industry trends, you will maintain an active social presence and reply to customer inquiries. A successful social media manager will collaborate with marketing, PR, and legal teams to align company messages, promotions, and goals."

That's a lot of responsibility for one person, but for today's social media-savvy folks, this job can be fun and creative. And the demand is only increasing as more businesses move and grow with the times.

As per Study.com, "Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or marketing," is needed for this job.

"The average salary for a Social Media Manager is $60,784," as per Glassdoor.

Translator/Interpreter

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If you are fluent in more than one tongue, put those talents and skills to use at work by taking a job as a translator or interpreter. As Truity describes, "Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language. Interpreters work in spoken or sign language; translators work in written language."

"The goal of a translator is to have people read the translation as if it were the original. (They) must be able to write sentences that maintain or duplicate the structure and style of the original meaning while keeping the ideas and facts of the original meaning accurate. (They) must properly transmit any cultural references and other expressions that do not translate literally," explains Truity. And, "Interpreters convert information from one spoken language into another—or, in the case of sign language interpreters, between spoken language and sign language. The goal of an interpreter is to have people hear the interpretation as if it were the original. Interpreters must usually be fluent speakers or signers of both languages, because they communicate back and forth among the people who do not share a common language."

According to Study.com, "Translators often specialize in a certain topic, such as literature, finance, law, medicine, or technology. Most staff employment opportunities are in Washington, D.C., New York, and California; however, the need for Translators is expanding throughout the U.S., especially in the area of healthcare. (You'll need) a bachelor's degree and expertise in multiple languages."

As per U.S. News & World Report, "Interpreters and translators earned a median annual salary of $46,120 in 2016. The best-paid earned more than $83,010."

Auditor

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Are you good with money, math, and management? A career as an auditor may be your calling, and a path to a generous paycheck to boot. As per Target Jobs, "Auditors are specialists who review the accounts of companies and organizations to ensure the validity and legality of their financial records. They can also act in an advisory role to recommend possible risk aversion measures and cost savings that could be made. Auditors work in the accounting departments of a huge range of firms and with independent chartered and certified firms, examining the money going in and out of organizations and making sure it is recorded and processed correctly."

As far as schooling goes, "Auditors typically need at least a bachelor's degree in an accounting-related field, and earning optional certification, such as those offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors, can increase job prospects and/or earnings," according to Study.com.

Look out for an 11% growth in the demand for auditors through 2014, which is, "faster than average of all occupations," as per Study.com.

According to Glassdoor, "The national average salary for an Auditor is $58,083."

Court Reporter

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Be part of the justice system by becoming a court reporter. If you are interested in the legal system, but don't have the desire to become a lawyer or judge, a court reporter can be a fulfilling career full of excitement and importance.

As per CourtReporterEdu, "Court reporters – also referred to as short hand reporters – are responsible for keeping written records of legal proceedings, whether in government, court, or private settings. The verbatim documentation in criminal, civil and other court proceedings requires professionals who are highly skilled and trained in court reporting, which usually involves stenography."

You'll need lots of talent, skills, and a solid work ethic to be a consistent and capable court reporter. CourtReporterEdu lists some of the traits of and knowledge needed to be a competent court reporter:

  • Operate a stenographic machine at 200 wpm
  • Advanced spelling, punctuation, vocabulary and grammar skills
  • Perform legal clerical work with a high degree of accuracy and speed
  • Remain seated for long periods of time
  • Knowledge of clerical and legal recordkeeping practices and procedures
  • Operate a variety of equipment, including transcription machines, computer terminals, audio equipment, and printers…

…and the list goes on.

You will need to become a stenographer, as per WikiHow, and meet state requirements. "The requirements for becoming a court reporter vary by state. Some states, for instance, only require certification from one of the court reporter's associations, while some require both certification and completion of a vocational program at a technical school. Many states require aspiring court reporters to take a licensing test produced by the state."

Are you up for the courtroom challenge? If so, not only will your skills be put to good use, but you will make a living that reflects your attention to detail and aid in making judicial proceedings run effectively.

As per CourtReporterEdu, "The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that court reporter jobs are expected to grow 14 percent (by) 2020." Salary.com lists a salary range for a court reporter to be $40,147 - $72,828.

Flight Attendant

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Travel the world, meet new people, take care of others, and keep travelers safe by taking your career to new heights (literally) as a flight attendant. If you have a flexible schedule and can manage non-traditional work hours and an out-of-the-box atmosphere, a job on a plane may have you on cloud nine!

According to Truity, the following duties make up a flight attendant's work:

  • Attend preflight briefings on details of the flight
  • Ensure that adequate supplies of refreshments and emergency equipment are on board
  • Assist in cleaning the cabin between flights
  • Demonstrate the use of safety and emergency equipment
  • Ensure all passengers have seatbelts fastened and ensure other safety requirements are met
  • Serve, and sometimes sell, beverages, meals, or snacks
  • Take care of passengers' needs, particularly those with special needs
  • Reassure passengers during flight, such as when the aircraft hits turbulence
  • Administer first aid to passengers or coordinate first aid efforts, when needed
  • Direct passengers in case of emergency

As per Study.com, "Becoming a flight attendant requires little formal education. Flight attendants need to hold a high school diploma and complete a training program leading to certification by the Federal Aviation Administration."

"The national average salary for a Flight Attendant is $52,217 in United States," according to Glassdoor. Are you all aboard for a career in flight?

Dental Hygienist

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If the idea of helping others maintain good oral hygiene is something that makes you smile, then a career as a dental hygienist will have you creating pearly white smiles for those in your community in need of dental care.

Being a dentist isn't for everyone, but there is more to good oral care than the work of a dentist or orthodontist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Dental hygienists typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene. Programs typically take 3 years to complete. All states require dental hygienists to be licensed; requirements vary by state."

And choosing to get into this profession is a smart idea, as the career is booming. As per The Balance, "The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has designated this a 'Bright Outlook' occupation because of its exceptional job outlook. Employment, through at least 2024, is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations."

The Balance adds, "Dental hygienists who worked full-time earned a median annual salary of $72,910 in 2016."

Give these careers a chance, not only for their interesting duties, but for the nice pay that is associated with each.

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Can We Afford To Return To The Office?

Over two years into the most momentous event in our lives the world has changed forever … Some of us have PTSD from being locked up at home, some are living like everything’s going to end tomorrow, and the rest of us are merely trying to get by. When the pandemic hit we entered a perpetual state of vulnerability, but now we’re supposed to return to normal and just get on with our lives.

What does that mean? Packed bars, concerts, and grocery shopping without a mask feel totally strange. We got used to having more rules over our everyday life, considering if we really had to go out or keeping Zooming from our living rooms in threadbare pajama bottoms.

The work-from-home culture changed it all. Initially, companies were skeptical about letting employees work remotely, automatically assuming work output would fall and so would the quality. To the contrary, since March of 2020 productivity has risen by 47%, which says it all. Employees can work from home and still deliver results.

There are a number of reasons why everyone loves the work from home culture. We gained hours weekly that were wasted on public transport, people saved a ton of money, and could work from anywhere in the world. Then there were the obvious reasons like wearing sweats or loungewear all week long and having your pets close by. Come on, whose cat hasn’t done a tap dance on your keyboard in the middle of that All Hands Call!

Working from home grants the freedom to decorate your ‘office’ any way you want. But then people needed a change of environment. Companies began requesting their employees' RTO, thus generating the Hybrid Work Model — a blend of in-person and virtual work arrangements. Prior to 2020, about 20% of employees worked from home, but in the midst of the pandemic, it exploded to around 70%.

Although the number of people working from home increased and people enjoyed their flexibility, politicians started calling for a harder RTW policy. President Joe Biden urges us with, “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again.”

While Boris Johnson said, “Mother Nature does not like working from home.'' It wasn’t surprising that politicians wanted people back at their desks due to the financial impact of working from the office. According to a report in the BBC, US workers spent between $2,000 - $5,000 each year on transport to work before the pandemic.

That’s where the problem lies. The majority of us stopped planning for public transport, takeaway coffee, and fresh work-appropriate outfits. We must reconsider these things now, and our wallets are paying

the price. Gas costs are at an all-time high, making public transport increase their fees; food and clothes are all on a steep incline. A simple iced latte from Dunkin’ went from $3.70 to $3.99 (which doesn’t seem like much but 2-3 coffees a day with the extra flavors and shots add up to a lot), while sandwiches soared by 14% and salads by 11%.

This contributes to the pressure employees feel about heading into the office. Remote work may have begun as a safety measure, but it’s now a savings measure for employees around the world.

Bloomberg are offering its US staff a $75 daily commuting stipend that they can spend however they want. And other companies are doing the best they can. This still lends credence to ‘the great resignation.’ Initially starting with the retail, food service, and hospitality sectors which were hard hit during the pandemic, it has since spread to other industries. By September 2021, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 4.4 million resignations.

That’s where the most critical question lies…work from home, work from the office or stick to this new hybrid world culture?

Borris Johnson thinks, “We need to get back into the habit of getting into the office.” Because his experience of working from home “is you spend an awful lot of time making another cup of coffee and then, you know, getting up, walking very slowly to the fridge, hacking off a small piece of cheese, then walking very slowly back to your laptop and then forgetting what it was you’re doing.”

While New York City Mayor Eric Adams says you “can't stay home in your pajamas all day."

In the end, does it really matter where we work if efficiency and productivity are great? We’ve proven that companies can trust us to achieve the same results — or better! — and on time with this hybrid model. Employees can be more flexible, which boosts satisfaction, improves both productivity and retention, and improves diversity in the workplace because corporations can hire through the US and indeed all over the world.

We’ve seen companies make this work in many ways, through virtual lunches, breakout rooms, paint and prosecco parties, and — the most popular — trivia nights.

As much as we strive for normalcy, the last two years cannot simply be erased. So instead of wiping out this era, it's time to embrace the change and find the right world culture for you.

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