Careers That Make Good Money

Airline pilots enjoy a well paying job with a wealth of extra benefits. In addition to the $100,000 or more an experienced airline pilot can earn, he also has the benefit of earning extra money in the form of “per diem” payments for every hour he is away from home. Yet another financial benefit of being an airline pilot is that many pilots and their families are entitled to free or reduced air fare when they travel. Flying planes for a living, however, is very mentally taxing. For this reason the FAA restricts pilots to flying no more than 100 hours a month.

A real estate agent markets homes to buyers for a percentage of the total sale. The average commission a real estate agent receives is around 3%. Depending on the price of the homes a real estate agent sells, she can make well over $100,000 each year. A career in real estate does not require a college education, but real estate agents must be licensed to legally sell homes. Real estate can be a risky business, especially if the economy is struggling. Agents depend on a combination of skill and luck to make sales and bring in large commissions.

Astronomers study the planets and galaxies, collect data, and use that data to help solve current issues with space such as navigation and space flight. An astronomer’s main responsibility is to observe changes in space, and he may spend the majority of his time peering through high powered telescopes at distant stars and nebulae. Although a seasoned astronomer may earn as much as $145,000 annually, he must hold a Ph.D. in physics or one of its sub-fields. Astronomers frequently work as university professors and teach their subject matter rather than actually working in the field.

FBI agents work as investigators for the U.S. government. Many FBI agents are specialists in a certain field and use their knowledge and expertise to help investigate and solve crimes. A requirement for enrollment in the FBI is a college degree and five years experience in law enforcement. Those interested in being accepted to the FBI training program must meet strict physical fitness requirements in order to be considered. A financial perk of working for the FBI is that federal agents performing criminal investigations are entitled to “availability pay”, which is extra pay for working random and unscheduled hours. FBI agents have ranks much like military officials. Agents who work their way up to the higher ranks can earn over $100,000 each year.

Nurse anesthetists monitor a patient’s anesthesia needs before, during, and after medical procedures. Nurse anesthetists are required to have a BSN and attend a master’s degree program in anesthesia. Like physicians, nurse anesthetists are often “on call” and must report to the hospital on short notice. Many nurse anesthetists are independent contractors, accepting jobs that require them to travel. This is the most lucrative branch of nursing anesthesia, and travel anesthetists can bring in upwards of $200,000 annually, depending on their location and experience level.