27 Fun Jobs That Pay Well

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your job?

For many people, a job is simply a necessity in order to cover the expenses of life, but it’s not enjoyable.

If your job is something that you dread each day, have you ever thought about making a change? There are a lot of fun jobs that pay well, offering a rewarding career rather than something that feels like it’s sucking the life out of you.

While we’re all different and no job will appeal to everyone, there are some good options out there regardless of your own interests and your own personality.

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Before we jump into our look at all the fun jobs that pay well, there is a free app where you can find both online and offline jobs to give you a better bottom line. It’s an app called Steady.

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Fun Jobs That Pay Well

Let’s take a look at a number of jobs that tend to be enjoyable, while also providing an opportunity to earn an above-average income.

For the purposes of this article, we’re getting the average salary details for each job from ZipRecruiter. Keep in mind that this is strictly an average and there are a lot of factors that can influence what you’ll actually earn.

We’re listing the jobs according to the average annual salary, with the highest-paying opportunities first. Of course, there is a lot more that goes into job satisfaction than simply how much money you make, so don’t choose a career based on income alone.

1. Video Game Designer

Average salary of a Video Game Designer: $130,000

If you like video games, what job could be more fun than working as a video game designer? Not only will you be able to work on projects that you enjoy, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of creating games that others love.

Like other design-related jobs, this is a career that allows you to utilize your creativity. If you’re naturally creative, this is the type of job you should have in order to find the most satisfaction in your work.

Job Qualifications:

This is one career where your skills are likely to be more important than your education. Many video game jobs will require a degree of some kind, but it’s possible to start a great career with as little as an associate’s degree.

2. Ethical Hacker

Average salary of an Ethical Hacker: $119,289

An ethical hacker is hired by a company to test the security of a computer system, network, or website. The job involves attempting to hack the system and find weaknesses or vulnerabilities.

While there are certainly some unethical ways to make money as a hacker, this career path offers a lucrative option that will actually help companies instead of hurting them.

Job Qualifications:

Of course, you’ll need plenty of technical knowledge and hacking skills. You may need a degree or certification, although the qualifications will vary depending on the job. You’ll also need to be constantly learning to stay on top of new technology and techniques.

3. Pilot

Average salary of a pilot: $108,921

What could be more fun than flying a plane? Working as a pilot is not only enjoyable, but it’s also a very high-paying job.

Instead of sitting in an office, you can spend your working hours 30,000 feet above the ground. Naturally, this job will involve travel, although the specifics will depend on the routes that are assigned to you. Pilots also tend to work non-traditional hours, which may or may not be appealing to you.

Job Qualifications:

The requirements will vary depending on the job. Pilots for major airlines are typically required to have a college degree, as well as extensive training.

4. Wedding Photographer

Average salary of a Wedding Photographer: $104,417

Photography can be a very competitive industry, as it seems like everyone has at least one friend or family member that does photography as a side job. But wedding photography stands out from other types of photography because it’s much more suitable for professionals than hobbyists.

Wedding photographers do face some pressure in their line of work (you only get one chance to capture the moment) but it can be highly rewarding. The cost of a wedding photography package can easily total thousands of dollars.

Not only are wedding photographers paid well, but they also benefit from enjoyable work. You’ll get to use your creative or artistic side, work with a lot of different people, and provide clients with photos that they’ll cherish for years to come.

Job Qualifications:

Most wedding photographers are self-employed (although you could work for someone else as a second shooter) so there are no specific requirements in terms of education. The most important thing is that you’ll need a quality portfolio of photos in order to land clients. You may need to offer your services for very low prices in order to land your first clients and start to building your portfolio.

5. Software Engineer

Average salary of a Software Engineer: $99,729

If you enjoy working on your own and spending a lot of time at a desk, becoming a software engineer could be an excellent career choice.

Whether this job is fun or not will depend on your own personality and your interests, but for the right person, it’s a great job that is very rewarding.

Although you’ll be spending the majority of your time working on your own to code or develop software, you’ll also need to communicate and collaborate with teammates and colleagues.

Job Qualifications:

Most jobs for software engineers or software developers will require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or some other related field. Of course, aside from the degree, you’ll also need skills in the particular coding language being used for the software.

6. Veterinarian

Average salary of a Veterinarian: $96,624

If you’re an animal lover, a career as a veterinarian is likely to be both fun and rewarding. You’ll get to spend your time helping animals and pet owners, and you’ll probably work with a wide variety of types of animals.

Job Qualifications:

As you might expect, the requirements to become a veterinarian are pretty significant. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree plus completion of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

If you’re interested in this type of job but you’re not able or willing to invest the time and money into the education, it’s possible that you would work another job in a vet’s office to get many of the same benefits, although you won’t be paid as well.

7. Physical Therapist

Average salary of a Physical Therapist: $89,349

Physical therapists help clients with rehabilitation or treatment of chronic issues. If you love working with people and you don’t want to sit at a desk all day, this could be a great career choice for you.

Job Qualifications:

You’ll need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in order to work as a physical therapist.

8. Air Traffic Controller

Average salary of an Air Traffic Controller: $84,103

Air traffic controllers are responsible for organizing planes that are landing and taking off, in order to keep everyone safe.

Working as an air traffic controller can be an exciting job, but it does come with a lot of responsibility. You’ll need excellent attention to detail as people’s lives will be in your hands every day.

Job Qualifications:

You’ll need formal training in order to work as an air traffic controller, but there are a few different ways that you can get that training. You could get training through the Federal Aviation Administration, or gain experience in the military.

9. Art Director

Average salary of an Art Director: $78,781

If you enjoy using creativity in your work, becoming an art director could be a wise choice of career. Art directors are generally responsible for overseeing things like advertising, publication layout, photography, and more.

It’s similar to a design role, but you’ll be a manager and responsible for overseeing more than doing the actual design work yourself.

Job Qualifications:

Art director jobs are typically senior level and require a combination of a degree and several years of design experience. If you have the relevant experience, this could be a job that you pursue now. If you’re in the early stages of your career, this could be a long-term goal while you build your experience and resume as a designer.

10. Voice Actor

Average salary of a Voice Actor: $76,297

As a voice actor or voiceover artist, you’ll be reading a script and recording audio to be used in a variety of different ways. Your projects could involve things like creating audiobooks, recording sales videos, creating commercials, and much more.

With the amount of audio and video content being produced these days, working as a voice actor is a great job and these skills are in demand.

Job Qualifications:

Many voice actors work as freelancers, so there are no set requirements in terms of education or experience. If you have some skills, you may be able to start landing clients and building your portfolio. The clips in your portfolio will be the most important factor in your ability to land clients and make money as a voice actor.

11. Web Developer

Average salary of a web developer: $75,073

A job as a web developer is fairly similar to the opportunity that we’ve already discussed for software engineers. Instead of software, you’ll be coding websites or web-based apps.

Job Qualifications:

The qualifications will vary depending on the job. Some development positions will require a degree, however, your coding ability will be more important. You may be able to land a quality job even if you don’t have a degree by having a strong portfolio.

Working as a freelance web developer is also an option. You can either focus on growing your own business, or freelance for the purpose of gaining experience and proving your ability in order to help with landing a job.

12. Helicopter Pilot

Average salary of a Commercial Helicopter Pilot: $67,540

Flying an airplane isn’t the only option if you want to work as a pilot. Helicopters can be even more fun to fly than jets, and the income potential is pretty good.

Job Qualifications:

To work as a helicopter pilot, you’ll need training from an FAA-approved flight school, or you could get the necessary training in the military.

13. Virtual Assistant

Average salary of a Virtual Assistant: $67,115

A virtual assistant will perform administrative tasks remotely, from home or wherever you have an internet connection. The specific tasks can vary widely depending on what the client needs.

Most VAs will work for several different clients, so it’s possible to get a lot of variety in your work. One of the factors that makes this job so appealing is the flexibility. Not only can you work from home, but you can also set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. This job is equally well suited for part-time and full-time work.

Job Qualifications:

The best way to make money as a VA is to freelance and find your own clients. There are VA jobs available, but they tend to be lower paying. If you want to earn a better income, you should freelance rather than working as an employee.

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14. Freelance Writer

Average salary of a Freelance Writer: $63,213

Continuing with another job that can be done from anywhere, working as a freelance writer offers a lot of perks. It’s a flexible job that can be done part-time or full-time, you can use your existing experience or expertise, or choose to focus on topics that interest you.

There is plenty of work available and skilled writers are able to make a great income.

Job Qualifications:

You don’t need any specific education or experience to work as a freelance writer, although writing skills are obviously important. There are entry-level gigs available for those who are just getting started, but you’ll need to build a portfolio and demonstrate your abilities to land the highest-paying jobs.

Check out the course 30 Days Or Less To Freelance Writing Success.

15. Cruise Director

Average salary of a Cruise Director: $63,185

For those who enjoy traveling and entertaining others, working as a cruise director could be a dream job. As a cruise director, you’ll be responsible for the entertainment and activities on a cruise ship.

You’ll manage a staff of workers and organize events to entertain cruise guests. It’s a job that involves a lot of interaction with people, and it can be a lot of fun.

Job Qualifications:

To work as a cruise director, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as experience with event planning. You may be interested in gaining experience with other roles on the ship that would prepare you and help you to establish qualifications to be hired as a cruise director.

16. Web Designer

Average salary of a web designer: $60,202

Earlier, we talked about working as a web developer. While developers are responsible for the coding, web designers focus more on the visual aspects. Some web designers also do HTML and CSS coding, while others strictly work on the visual design.

Many web design jobs are remote, so this is another opportunity that can be done from anywhere, depending on the job.

Job Qualifications:

Some web design jobs may require a degree, but your work experience and design ability will be more important than education to most employers. It’s also possible to freelance or even start your own agency, so you don’t have to wait for someone to give you a job in order to become a web designer.

17. Landscape Architect

Average salary of a Landscape Architect: $59,868

Working as a landscape architect is another creative job. You’ll be designing outdoor spaces that people use and love, so it can be a very fun and rewarding job.

You could be designing for residential clients, outdoor spaces for businesses, parks, or other outdoor spaces.

Job Qualifications:

Typically, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in order to qualify for a job. Obviously, your experience and portfolio will also play an important role in landing this type of job.

18. DJ

Average salary of a DJ: $58,267

As a disc jockey or DJ, you’ll get to work at fun events and provide entertainment to people. If you love music and being at weddings, parties, and other events, this could be the perfect job for you.

Job Qualifications:

There are no official requirements to become a DJ and since many DJs are self-employed, anyone can start a business and go into this line of work.

19. Sommelier

Average salary of a Sommelier: $56,061

If you love wine, what job could be better than working as a sommelier? As the wine expert, your responsibilities may include things like creating a wine list for a restaurant or making wine recommendations to customers.

Job Qualifications:

There are some organizations that offer certification as a sommelier, although certification is not absolutely essential in order to work in this type of job. You’ll need extensive knowledge of wine and ideally some experience in the industry, which might involve working under another sommelier to gain that experience.

20. Librarian

Average salary of a Librarian: $55,395

While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you consider fun jobs, working as a librarian can be a great choice for the right person.

If you love books and enjoy working in a quiet environment, this could be the job for you.

Job Qualifications:

Most head librarian jobs will require a bachelor’s degree and possibly even a master’s degree. However, if you don’t already have the required education, there are other jobs at a library that don’t require a degree.

21. Magician

Average salary of a Magician: $54,071

If you love entertaining and delighting others, why not work as a magician? Performing magic or illusions can be a lot of fun while allowing you to use your skills.

Job Qualifications:

There are no formal requirements to become a magician and no education is needed. Instead, you’ll need the ability to perform tricks and to entertain.

Many magicians are self-employed, but you might be able to gain valuable experience by working as an assistant for another magician.

22. Social Media Manager

Average salary of a Social Media Manager: $50,088

If you already spend hours a day on social media, you should consider working as a social media manager. You would be responsible for managing the social presence of your employer or clients on sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and other social networks.

A growing number of businesses rely on advertising on social networks like Facebook. You can get paid to set up and manage ads for clients, and this work can be quite lucrative if you’re good at getting results for your clients.

Bobby Hoyt’s Facebook Side Hustle Course will teach you everything you need to know to start your own business managing Facebook ads for clients in your local area.

Job Qualifications:

If you’re looking for employment as a social media manager, you may need a degree. However, you could work as a freelancer or start your own agency regardless of your education. Ultimately, your ability to produce results is much more important (and valuable) than a degree.

23. Restaurant Critic

Average salary of a Restaurant Critic: $50,004

What could be better than getting paid to eat good food? You would be visiting different restaurants on a constant basis, trying the food, and writing your review.

Job Qualifications:

Most food critic jobs will require a degree in journalism or a similar field. However, if you have the desire to become a food critic but you don’t have the education, you could start your own food blog and work on building up your audience. You may get to the point of being able to do it full-time, or the blog may provide you with qualifications that help you to land a job.

24. Event Planner

Average salary of an Event Planner: $49,992

As an event planner, you would get to work with other people planning events like weddings, conferences, parties, and other types of events.

If you enjoy planning and being around people, this could be a great career choice for you.

Job Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in hospitality can help, but is not necessarily required. You could find employment as an event planner or start your own business.

25. Makeup Artist

Average salary of a Freelance Makeup Artist: $49,330

As a makeup artist, you may work at weddings or other events, with models, for theater and film products, etc. You could work as an employee or start your own business as a freelancer.

Job Qualifications:

While there aren’t formal requirements to become a makeup artist, licensing or certification can help. Becoming a licensed cosmetologist will help to demonstrate your expertise.

26. Personal Trainer

Average salary of a Personal Trainer: $48,853

If you’re into fitness and you love working with people, especially one-on-one, working as a personal trainer could be a great job for you. You’ll be responsible for developing a training program to meet the needs of the client, as well as providing instruction, encouragement, and motivation.

Job Qualifications:

You’ll need a high school degree and certification by an accredited program. You may be able to find a job as a personal trainer through a local gym, or you could start your own business and find clients on your own.

27. Graphic Designer

Average salary of a Graphic Design $48,283

If you’re artistic and you have some design skills, working as a graphic designer would be a natural choice. Graphic designers can work on a wide variety of projects like logo design, brochure design, advertising design, packaging design, and more.

Job Qualifications:

While your portfolio will be the most important factor in landing work, many graphic design jobs will also require a relevant degree. If you don’t have a degree and you want to start using your abilities right away, you could work as a freelance graphic designer.

There Are Plenty Of Fun Jobs That Pay Well

As you can see, there are plenty of jobs that provide excellent income potential while also allowing you to enjoy your work.

It really comes down to your own interests and skills, so find a job that would be a good option for you and take action. With these fun jobs that pay well being listed, you should have at least a few options to consider.