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.
Film and Video Editors
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.
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.
Authors and Writers
Mean Income: $68,060 Top 10%: $115,740
There are tons of writing jobs, from SEO writers (who help businesses rank high on Google searches) to content writers. One option is to find a stable writing job that pays you a salary or based on how much work you do. Another option is to go freelance and have full control over your projects.
Being hired for a writing job has more to do with the field you’re entering than having an actual degree. The more skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable you are at a specific niche, the easier and more lucrative opportunities will be available to you. Just do yourself a favor and get a standing desk, your back and neck will thank you for it later on.
Art Directors
Mean Income: $95,500 Top 10%: $166,620
Art Directors are responsible for things like designing video games and turning them from an art project into a real business. This means that you need to have both a creative mind and higher managerial and number-oriented skills. Steve Jobs is a great example of such a mix.
In terms of credentials, you’ll need to have a BA and at least a few years of working in a management position (unless you’re planning to start or join a new company). This is a potentially risky position. Art directors are often blamed if projects end up failing for any reason, as they are responsible for both the artistic and business side of things.