Mean Income: $66,690 Top 10%: $126,250
If you’ve got a passion for editing films and videos, you should know that nowadays this field is a lot easier to get into than most people think. The challenge is to find a job at a high-end organization instead of an amateur one — that’s a matter of skills, luck, tenacity, and connections.
Most studios and companies would require you to have some sort of a degree in the subject or at least a really good demo reel. You’ll also need to learn various Adobe software, including After Effects, Premier, Auditions, and others. Luckily, Adobe caters to students, so you don’t have to shell out much to learn the software.
Library Services Director
Mean Income: $108,771 Top 10%: $139,523
People today not only don’t appreciate libraries enough, but they have also stopped visiting them altogether. These prestigious bodies of knowledge contain much of the world’s literature and are an incredible place to sit down and work quietly. Being the supervisor of a library is also cool, as it gives you the responsibility of hiring, educating, and managing library staff.
You’ll get to spend most of your time at the library, which depending on your taste, is either the best use of your time or a complete bore-fest. You’ll need at least a few years of experience working in libraries and using their systems to qualify for the job. Also, being very customer-oriented and a good manager helps too.
Geophysicist
Mean Income: $91,763 Top 10%: $183,703
Geophysicists are highly proficient at studying and analyzing the earth’s patterns, after which, they use that vast knowledge to make discoveries and predictions. If you have a love for mother nature and a scientific mind, this job is very exciting, and also earns six figures annually.
For entry-level positions in the field, you’ll need your basic Bachelor’s degree. However, in order to get to some of the highest levels of responsibility (and salary) of the job, you’ll definitely need a master’s degree in the field. So if you have one of those kids who bring leaves and dirt home from kindergarten each day, just know there’s hope for them.
Captain/Pilot in Command
Mean Income: $128,063 Top 10%: $230,573
By becoming a pilot in command, you’re tasked with ensuring that flights are conducted safely and with no incidents. This is a job with the utmost level of responsibility, which is why you’ll be required to have either 5,000 hours of commercial flight experience or at least 15 years of experience working in aviation.
Some of the basic requirements also include having an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), owning a valid passport, and going through a multitude of rigorous physical, mental and emotional checkups. They don’t just let anyone become a pilot in command, so if you succeed, you know you're one of the best and your paycheck will follow suit.
Gaming Manager
Mean Income: $74,480 Top 10%: $116,840
Gaming managers work at casinos and other establishments that allow for gambling-style games like poker and roulette. Their job is to attract players, encourage them to bet as much as possible, and ensure that nobody is cheating or getting an advantage. This is a serious profession that could potentially make you a bunch of money, but you must have a very specific set of skills to prevail at it.
The most important things you need for this career are having great charisma, the ability to multitask, and an eye for spotting odd behavior. No matter how great you are at attracting potential gamblers, if you can’t pay attention to the entire table, your casino might still lose money.