When you think of fun jobs, you probably don’t think of six-figure occupations. After all, why would employers pay top dollar unless the job was boring, stressful, or both?
But employers pay for skills, not for suffering. If you have the talent and know-how to get the job done, enthusiasm for the work is a bonus as far as companies are concerned. (No, really: loving your job has been associated with higher productivity–meaning a better bottom line for your employer.)
It is very possible to land a fun high-paying job–if you know what to look for. Here’s how to enjoy your work and watch your bank balance grow.
Getting a fun high-paying job is competitive. Think about it like this: you’re selling the company on a major investment in you, so you need to do everything you can to get an edge. Investing a little money to have a professional resume writing service polish up your resume can be the edge you need. Check out our guide to the best resume writing services to get started today.
If you’re looking for a fun high-paying job, start your search on ZipRecruiter! ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and you can apply for jobs with a single click.
10 Of Top Fun High-Paying Jobs
You can find fun high-paying jobs in industries ranging from tech to transportation. Most require education beyond high school and some demand certifications or licensure. But with median pay that often tops six figures, these jobs are worth the investment.
1. Aerospace Engineer
Median National Salary: $122,270
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 61,400
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 8%
Job Duties: Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, and just about any other vessel or technology involved in air or space travel. There are two types of aerospace engineers: aeronautical and astronautical. Aeronautical engineers design aircraft and propulsion systems. Astronautical engineers design spacecraft, satellites, and anything else that travels beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
Related: The Best Engineering Careers
2. Acupuncturist
Median National Salary: $92,120
Education Required: Master’s degree
Number of Jobs: 55,700
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 5%
Job Duties: Acupuncture involves inserting hair-thin needles into various points on the body. The goal is to unblock the flow of energy, called Qi, and thus treat symptoms of diseases and conditions. Acupuncturists follow tenets of Traditional Chinese Medicine to determine which points to treat. In addition to needles, acupuncturists may use pressure, heat, massage, or cupping.
3. Atmospheric Scientist
Median National Salary: $94,570
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 10,700
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 8%
Job Duties: Atmospheric scientists study the weather, atmosphere, and climate. They may forecast the upcoming weather, study climate change, or write computer models and programs to analyze weather patterns and atmospheric conditions. There are many kinds of atmospheric scientists including weather forecasters, climate scientists, atmospheric chemists, and forensic meteorologists.
4. Art Director
Median National Salary: $100,890
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 98,500
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 11%
Job Duties: Art directors create the visual look of advertisements, publications, film and TV sets, and packaging for consumer products. To be successful, art directors must be able to work well with others, directing the work of designers and contributors and communicating with clients and vendors.
5. Astronomer
Median National Salary: $147,450
Education Required: Ph.D
Number of Jobs: 2,100
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Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 5%
Job Duties: Astronomers study celestial bodies including planets, stars, and meteors. They use tools like telescopes to observe the structure of the universe and use models to visualize the evolution of the galaxy.
6. Data Scientist
Median National Salary: $100,480
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 63,200
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 31%
Job Duties: Data scientists collect, process, and analyze data to help businesses and other organizations achieve their goals. Using techniques like statistical modeling and machine learning, data scientists turn raw data into insight that helps their employers make better decisions.
If you want to be a data scientist, learn what to include on a data scientist resume.
7. Makeup Artist
Median National Salary: $134,750
Education Required: Nondegree award
Number of Jobs: 3,100
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 37%
Job Duties: Makeup artists work on film shoots for TV shows, movies, and advertisements. They apply cosmetics to performers’ faces and bodies to create a certain look. Some makeup artists focus on special effects including prosthetics such as those used for science fiction or horror movies.
8. Nurse Midwife
Median National Salary: $123,780
Education Required: Master’s degree
Number of Jobs: 271,900
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 45%
Job Duties: Nurse midwives are a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). These highly educated midwives perform many of the same services as obstetrician-gynecologists with a medical doctorate. The exception is that they cannot perform caesarian sections, although they may assist physicians during these births.
Related: How To Become A Nurse
9. Pilot
Median National Salary: $134,630
Education Required: Airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as flight training and certification from the FAA. Commercial pilots need a commercial pilot certificate, which involves logging flight hours and passing an exam.
Number of Jobs: 113,900
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 13%
Job Duties: Airline pilots fly scheduled flights including those transporting passengers. Commercial pilots fly unscheduled flights including charter flights, tours, and private transport. Many airline pilots start as commercial pilots, as it’s necessary to get a commercial pilot certificate before earning an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
10. Veterinarian
Median National Salary: $100,370
Education Required: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree
Number of Jobs: 86,800
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 17%
Job Duties: Veterinarians work with animals, diagnosing and treating medical conditions and performing regular exams to assess and preserve animal health. Some veterinarians focus on pets, while others treat primarily livestock.
Where To Find Fun High-Paying Jobs
Here are the best places to find high-paying jobs. For additional options, check out the best job posting sites.
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter offers job seekers free access to over 100 job boards, including ZipRecruiter’s proprietary job board. Post your resume, search for jobs, and quickly apply to positions in minutes.
Read our review of ZipRecruiter to learn more.
Indeed
Indeed boasts over 250 million unique users per month, making it the largest job search site. Job seekers can search for and apply to jobs for free. They can also set up email alerts to keep them posted on new opportunities.
Read our review of Indeed to learn more.
LinkedIn is best known as the world’s largest professional social network (830 million members and counting). But it’s also a solid choice for job seekers who want to leverage its reach to connect with recruiters and hiring managers as well as search for open jobs.
Read our review of LinkedIn to learn more.
How To Find A Fun High-Paying Job
Everyone can find a fun job–but the first thing to understand is that your idea of fun may be very different from someone else’s. For example, if you love babies and helping women be healthy, nurse midwife might be your dream job. But if you’re scared of blood and feel nervous every time your annual checkup comes around, you might be happier in a non-medical field.
To find a job that’s your idea of fun, try the following:
- Pay attention to how you spend your time. Do you love watching YouTube makeup tutorials? You might have a future as a makeup artist. Are you an animal lover with a gift for science? Look into veterinary medicine as a career.
- Take online career aptitude tests. Career assessment tests measure everything from your personality and motivations to your temperament and strengths. Best of all, many online tests are free.
- Talk to people who have your dream job. People who love their jobs love talking about them, so it should be easy to set up informational interviews (or even just informal chats, if that’s more your speed). Ask your friends if they know anyone who has the job you want. It’s a small world–you will be surprised at how easy it is to network your way to a connection.
- Get help from a professional. If you’re a current or former college student, contact career services at your school for guidance. Most career centers will help alumni long after they graduate and can be a wonderful source of resume help, interview advice, skills development, and career assessment. Career coaches and counselors can also help you figure out what a fun job looks like for you and connect you with resources.
The Bottom Line
Fun work and financial stability don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Ready to get started? Check out ZipRecruiter and find fun jobs near you.
