35 Easy Jobs That Pay Well
You need a job to pay the bills, but that doesn’t mean you have to struggle through hours of physically and mentally stressful work just to keep a roof over your head. It’s possible to find easy high-paying jobs that you enjoy and help you maintain a positive work-life balance.
See: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS
GOBankingRates put together this list of easy jobs that pay well, including easy part-time jobs and jobs that pay well even if you don’t have a college degree.
Easy Jobs That Pay Well
Good jobs that pay well come in a variety of industries and are available at multiple experience levels. This is good news because easy is a subjective term. To one person, an easy job is one they can do on their own with minimal supervision or interaction with others. Another person may consider an easy job one that doesn’t require heavy lifting or excessive on-the-job hours.
Is there such a thing as a do-nothing job that pays well? Well, not quite. But these jobs pay more than the national median wage of $1,118 per week.
1. Statistician
Median annual salary: $98,920
Educational requirements: Master’s degree
Primary duties: Statisticians analyze data and help solve problems using statistical techniques. These professionals commonly work for the federal government or engineering research companies.
2. Power Plant Operator
Median annual salary: $97,570
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Power plant operators control, operate and maintain machinery that generates electricity. The job requires monitoring instruments to maintain voltage and electricity flow and using control boards to regulate the distribution of power. It’s true that the job can be stressful if something goes wrong, but that’s a rare occurrence.
3. Radiation Therapist
Median annual salary: $89,530
Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
Primary duties: Radiation therapists work in multiple healthcare settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities. Typically, they are members of the oncology team who administer radiation treatments to patients.
4. Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Median annual salary: $85,300
Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
Primary duties: As a nuclear medicine technologist, you work with radioactive drugs used to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Your work can include preparing the medications and disposing of waste, answering patient questions and maintaining records.
5. Web Developer
Median annual salary: $80,730
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Web developers design and create websites for their clients. They can be self-employed or work for a specific company that specializes in graphic design or website development. This job has a low stress level, as well as a high level of flexibility, according to U.S. News.
6. Technical Writer
Median annual salary: $79,960
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Technical writers create a number of written content for companies, including instruction manuals, product specification guides, journal articles and more. Some technical writers complete grant applications and write employee handbooks. You may be able to work remotely and can freelance to earn extra cash when needed.
7. Landscape Architect
Median annual salary: $73,210
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: This job isn’t necessarily “easy” — it definitely requires a high level of skill and job training, but it could be a fun job for people with a knack for design and a love of the outdoors. Although you might spend a good portion of your time in an office creating designs for parks and other outdoor spaces, you also get to spend time outside visiting the job sites.
8. Cartographer
Median annual salary: $71,890
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: A cartographer is a professional map maker. Their work includes gathering and analyzing data and putting it into a digital or physical format to share. This job usually requires a bachelor’s degree in cartography, geography, geomatics or surveying.
9. Dietician
Median annual salary: $66,450
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Dieticians work with clients to assess their nutritional needs and develop eating plans to help them meet their nutritional requirements. They also teach individuals and groups about nutrition and healthy lifestyles to prevent and manage disease.
10. Archeologist
Median annual salary: $63,940
Educational requirements: Master’s degree
Primary duties: Archeology combines a love of history and a passion for exploring. Archaeologists examine and preserve animal or human remains and artifacts, and use their findings to learn about the history and living habits of these beings from earlier eras. They also manage and protect archeological sites.
11. Anthropologist
Median annual salary: $63,940
Educational requirements: Master’s degree
Primary duties: This low-stress job focuses on the study of human beings. Anthropologists typically work for research organizations, the government or consulting firms and sometimes perform fieldwork outside of an office.
12. Librarian
Median annual salary: $61,660
Educational requirements: Master’s degree
Primary duties: If you love books and helping others, you might love being a librarian. Librarians can work for local governments, companies or schools and assist people with finding the information they need online or in print materials.
13. Survey Researcher
Median annual salary: $60,410
Educational requirements: Master’s degree
Primary duties: Survey researchers design and conduct surveys, and then analyze the data. They can work in a number of environments, including research firms, polling organizations, nonprofits, corporations, colleges, universities and government agencies.
14. Wind Turbine Technician
Median annual salary: $57,320
Educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
Primary duties: This job is certainly not for someone with a fear of heights — it requires installing, maintaining and repairing wind turbines, which means you are often working outdoors, in confined spaces and at high heights. However, if none of those conditions phase you, you can find the work to be pretty easy.
15. Physical Therapist Assistant
Median annual salary: $57,240
Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
Primary duties: Physical therapist assistants work alongside physical therapists in hospitals, doctor’s offices, skilled nursing facilities and private practices. They support the work of the physical therapist by helping patients perform the exercises and stretching listed on their treatment plans.
Easy Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree
In many cases, getting an education increases your odds of qualifying for well-paying jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median earnings of a worker with a bachelor’s degree is $1,432, while someone with only a high school diploma earns $853 per week. However, it’s still possible to make a living without going to college, especially if you can score one of these easy jobs that don’t require a college degree.
16. Makeup Artist
Median annual salary: $96,370
Educational requirements: Post-secondary certificate
Primary duties: Makeup artists work in a number of settings, including backstage at live performances. They choose, apply and remove makeup to create a look for a character or individual and may be responsible for taking care of the actors’ skin before and after application.
17. Flight Attendant
Median annual salary: $63,760
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: There is some stress associated with this job, which varies depending on whether you get unruly passengers or, in some cases, in-flight emergencies. Statistically speaking, though, it’s usually smooth sailing, or rather flying. Plus, you get to travel as part of the job.
18. Commercial Diver
Median annual salary: $68,300
Educational requirements: Post-secondary certificate
Primary duties: Commercial divers repair and inspect structures, install equipment, and observe the conditions of the underwater environment. The work can be physically demanding, but this field is growing faster than average and has high satisfaction rates.
19. Property Manager
Median annual salary: $60,670
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Being a property manager can be low-stress if you manage a smaller building. Your main responsibilities are to show the property to prospective renters, collect lease payments and arrange for repairs and other building management services. If you have low-maintenance tenants and not too much turnover, this could be a pretty easy job.
20. Hearing Aid Specialist
Median annual salary: $59,020
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Hearing aid specialists administer hearing tests, interpret test results and take ear impressions to select and fit hearing aids for customers. This is one of the few healthcare jobs you can get with just a high school diploma or equivalent.
21. Craft Artist
Median annual salary: $53,140
Educational requirements: None
Primary duties: Craft artists produce pieces of art to sell or display in galleries. They may work in a single medium like painting, drawing or weaving, or they may experiment with a variety of artistic techniques. Artists sometimes teach art lessons or apply for grants to support their artistic endeavors.
22. Truck Driver
Median annual salary: $49,920
Educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
Primary duties: Truck drivers work as employees or independent contractors delivering goods across town or across the country. In addition to driving the truck, drivers are responsible for meeting deadlines, making sure their cargo arrives safely and keeping their trucks clean and in good working condition.
23. Garbage Collector
Median annual salary: $43,540
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: A garbage collector does the important task of picking up trash and recyclable materials and transporting them to recycling centers and landfills. Working around refuse may not always be pleasant, but you get to spend the day outdoors. The job may require a commercial driver’s license if you want to drive the truck.
24. Parking Enforcement Worker
Median annual salary: $41,570
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Parking enforcement workers are responsible for monitoring parking spaces in parking lots and streets to ensure drivers comply with the law. As needed, they issue violations and may request towing services for illegally parked vehicles.
25. Crossing Guard
Median annual salary: $33,380
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Crossing guards have the important job of ensuring pedestrians safely cross a stree. They may work near a school, construction site, or event center, where they sometimes direct and stop traffic as needed, making it a good part-time job.
Easy Jobs With Flexible Schedules
The consulting firm McKinsey & Company surveyed 25,000 workers in the United States and found that a surprising number of them — 87% — would accept an offer for flexible work. If you’re one of them and prefer a work schedule that lets you fit in errands and appointments around work commitments or are looking for a part-time job, check out these easy jobs with flexible schedules.
26. Interior Designer
Median annual salary: $61,590
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Interior designers help their clients create inviting spaces to live and work in. This work is easy for someone with an eye for design who can turn someone else’s vision into a reality.
27. Translator
Median annual salary: $53,640
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Translators convert information from one language into another and work in settings that include schools, hospitals, courtrooms and conference centers. Many translators work remotely. If you already speak two — or more — languages fluently, this should be a pretty stress-free job that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
28. Real Estate Agent
Median annual salary: $52,030
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Real estate agents help people buy and sell property, including houses, apartment buildings, warehouses and office buildings. They advertise properties, negotiate offers, draft contracts and more to assist their clients during the sale.
29. Exercise Physiologist
Median annual salary: $51,350
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Exercise physiologists create exercise programs for their clients, and they show them how to perform the exercises safely and monitor their progress toward individual goals. Although some exercise physiologists work as employees in a hospital or medical facility, many are self-employed and can choose their own hours.
30. Massage Therapist
Median annual salary: $49,860
Educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
Primary duties: As a massage therapist, you treat clients by massaging and stretching their muscles to relieve tension and increase flexibility. Massage therapy is a physical job that keeps you on your feet, but you also have the option to use a variety of tools that make the job easier. Many massage therapists work in relaxing spa settings with calming music and aromatherapy that benefit the therapist as much as the client.
31. Travel Agent
Median annual salary: $46,400
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Travel agents help their clients with travel arrangements, including researching and booking airfare, ground transportation and accommodations. They may work with individuals or large groups and sometimes recommend entertainment options or tour packages. Some travel agents work for agencies and many are self-employed travel enthusiasts.
32. Personal Trainer
Median annual salary: $45,380
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Though specific degrees are not required, getting a certificate in fitness or nutrition can help with higher earning potential and surpassing the average salary. If you are someone who loves spending time in the gym and taking great care of your physical health, you can also help in guiding others to reach their fitness goals.
33. Athletic Coach
Median annual salary: $44,890
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Primary duties: Coaches work with individual athletes and sports teams at amateur and professional levels. They plan and oversee practice sessions, develop strategies to help the player reach goals and guide players during games and exhibitions.
34. Skincare Specialist
Median annual salary: $38,060
Educational requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
Primary duties: A skincare specialist, also known as an esthetician or cosmetologist, works in a salon, spa or medical office where they apply treatments to clients’ face and body. They also evaluate skin and recommend products.
35. Pet Sitter
Median annual salary: $29,790
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Primary duties: Pet sitters take care of animals while their owners are away, making sure they have the care, food, and exercise they need to stay physically and mentally healthy. You may choose to bring the pets to your house or stay with them in their own homes. Don’t let the salary fool you — you can set your own hours and prices for services.
Final Take
If you’re currently in the market for a new job, one of these easy, high-paying jobs could be a good option. It’s important to remember that “easy” is subjective, and what comes easily to you might not be so simple for others. Also, “easy” doesn’t always make for the most fulfilling career. Consider your skills, interests and career path when choosing a new job. The right job for you is the one that pays the bills, feeds your soul and helps you reach your goals.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about easy jobs that pay well.
What jobs pay well but are easy?
Easiness can be subjective, depending on everything from the interest level of the product or service you are providing to your specific skill set. For example, if you have no interest in the housing market or working with people, being a real estate agent might not be for you. However, there are many jobs that are considered easier based on stress levels and labor intensiveness such as librarian, survey researcher, statistician or property manager.
What is a fun job that pays well?
There are many fun jobs that pay well including the following:
-Marine biologist
-Interior designer
-Video game designer
-Netflix tagger
-Winemaker
-Event planner
-Cruise director
-Graphic designer
-Ethical hacker
-Fashion designer
What's the easiest job to get hired at?
Some jobs don't require higher education or even specific things like writing skills such as a personal trainer, flight attendant or power plant operator.
What is a low-stress job that pays well?
There are many jobs that are considered low-stress that still pay well including the following:
-Statistician
-Landscape architect
-Anthropologist
-Librarian
-Personal trainer
-Property manager
-Survey researcher
-Flight attendant
Caitlyn Moorhead and Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of Oct. 19, 2023.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 35 Easy Jobs That Pay Well
