The Ten Most-Surprising Six-Figure Jobs

August 1, 2012 - 4:05 pm | Category: Money

“Forbes” went through the newest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and came up with a list of the most surprising jobs that can pay over $100,000. Here are the top ten.

#1.) Technical Writers. That means writing things like technical manuals and instruction booklets. There are just over 45,000 technical writers working in the U.S., and a lot of them make around sixty or $70,000 a year.

But the top 10% make $102,000 on average.

#2.) Elevator Repairmen. On average, they make $74,000 a year, and the top 10% average $106,000. For some reason, the ones in Massachusetts tend to make the most.

#3.) Transportation Inspectors. They inspect equipment and cargo, and the average salary is $66,000 a year. But top earners can make $110,000 a year or more.

#4.) Insurance Salesmen. There are over 320,000 in the U.S., and on average, they make $63,000 a year. But the top 10% average $115,000. And as far as salary goes, the best place to sell insurance is in Rhode Island.

#5.) Writers. Including people who write scripts, ads, and other material. The average annual income is $68,000 a year, but the top 10% average $116,000.

Just so we’re clear, they’re talking about professional WRITERS, not bloggers.

#6.) Gaming Managers. It’s someone who plans and coordinates the gaming operations for a casino. The average annual income is $75,000 a year, and the top 10% make around $117,000.

Casinos in New Jersey . . . not Nevada . . . tend to pay the highest salaries.

#7.) Make-Up Artists. There are about 2,000 of them in the U.S., and on average, they make about $64,000 a year. But the top 10% pull in an average of $120,000 a year.

#8.) Film and Video Editors. The top 10% average $126,000 a year, and a lot of them live in California. The average for ALL editors is $67,000.

#9.) Art Directors. Including the ones at advertising companies, TV stations, and magazines. The average salary is $96,000 a year, and the top 10% can make $170,000 or more.

#10.) Human Resource Managers. The top 10% average about $170,000 a year, but even HR managers who AREN’T in the top 10% make a lot.

There are a total of 82,000 of them working in the U.S., and the average salary is just under $109,000.