When they first enroll in college, students usually meet with a guidance counselor to discuss their career choices and what majors could lead to those careers. Guidance counselors commonly talk about mainstream jobs: electrician, banker, lawyer, and doctor. They rarely talk about these five high-paying, fun jobs.
Golf Ball Diver
If you enjoy working out-of-doors and snorkeling, golf ball diving might be one of the best career choices for you. Golf ball divers collect lost golf balls out of water hazards so they can be cleaned and reused. It’s a very environmentally friendly job; basically, you spend all day recycling. Golf ball divers can make up to $50,000 a year. This is a surprisingly challenging job, both physically and mentally. If you can’t stand the idea of being chained to a desk all day, this could be your ideal job. You don’t need any specific degree to embark on this job; the primary requirement is being certified in scuba diving. It is also a very feasible part-time job for college students putting themselves through school. It pays better and is more fun than flipping burgers.
Ethical Hacker
If you are good with computers, you can major in IT and embark on a career as an ethical hacker. On average, ethical hackers currently make around $90,000 a year. They spend their days being paid to hack into computer systems. Of course, the intent is to test the computer system’s security so unethical hackers can’t gain access. This is the perfect job for people who enjoy coding and creatively trying to break the system–legally.
Elevator Inspector
Elevator inspectors travel around the local area inspecting elevators. They make sure that new elevators comply with building and elevator safety codes. They also inspect all existing elevators regularly. In Hawaiʻi, like most states, all elevators have to be inspected once a year to ensure they are functioning correctly. Elevator inspectors also provide planning advice, repairing, and maintaining elevators to building managers, architects, and construction workers. An elevator inspector can make $60-$85,000 a year. The primary requirement for this interesting and important job is getting a QEI certificate after taking some specialized courses in elevator construction and maintenance and building safety codes. The job of elevator inspector requires strong people skills as well as technical skills because a major part of the job is communicating with other people about safety codes.
Surfboard Shaper
Skilled surfboard shapers can make $40,000-$50,000 a year constructing custom surfboards. Most surfboard shapers also spend a considerable amount of time surfing as part of their job because if they don’t understand surfing well and keep up with surfing trends, they can’t make good surfboards or meet potential clients.
Making surfboards doesn’t technically require a specific degree, but a two- or four-year college degree in visual design, marketing, or surf science and technology might help with getting hired as an apprentice surfboard shaper. In addition to being a decent surfer, this job requires both technical skills (to design and create quality surfboards) and people skills (to attract clients and convince them to buy your surfboards).
Environmental Science and Protection Technician
Hawaiʻi has a very unique environment that needs to be studied, maintained, and protected. Many people don’t realize there is a specific job for people who want to do just that: the environmental science and protection technician. These technicians can make $40,000-$60,000 a year, and they do field work, laboratory work, and office work, so it’s never tedious. To get this job, you will need a two or four-year degree in environmental science.
Environmental science and protection technicians go around inspecting the environment and sometimes businesses for possible environmental hazards and pollution risks. They may work for the state or local government, consulting firms, or testing laboratories. They observe situations, collect samples for testing, perform the tests, and provide written reports about environmental problems and possible solutions to their employers.
Awesome Career Choices: In Conclusion
These are just a few of the many career choices available today. There is no need to follow the family’s traditional pathway into law, accounting, or banking investment; all you have to do is decide how you’d like to spend your time and do some research into possible careers. There is almost certainly a career out there where you can spend your days doing exactly what you want. If you’d like to discuss unique (or traditional) careers, contact us today.
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