Reddit user fidgit86 recently asked, “It looks like a lot of people are making a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing something. So, those of you who do this, what is your profession that pays so well?”
The results were golden. The topic went viral with almost 20,000 responses. Here are some of the most amazing jobs people have made over $100,000 a year.
1. Air conditioner repair – for skyscrapers
One user commented that he made over $100,000 from his particular trade. “I fix broken air conditioners. But those for skyscrapers and hospitals.
You are probably familiar with the typical heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies that power your home appliance. While this career can also net you over $100,000 a year, specializing in hard-to-reach commercial divisions seems like a great way to earn even more.
2. linesman
Another Reddit user commented, “I build and repair power lines and play with high voltage electricity.”
A lineman or line worker is a specialized electrician who works on high-voltage power lines. You’ve probably seen them on the side of the road repairing overhead lines or working on power pylons.
You can earn between $150,000 and $250,000 a year, according to another lineman who stepped in, especially if you’re willing to work overtime.
3. Traveling nurse
“I know a traveling nurse who made $150,000 last year,” the user added.
While nursing can be a lucrative career in and of itself, traveling nurses can earn even more. If you’re willing to take on short-term contracts and travel to a country where there’s demand, you can get a hefty surcharge and often free accommodation for the duration of the contract.
4. Tow truck driver
Another Redditor has received a lot of attention for his highly paid job as a tow truck driver.
“I drive a tow truck on the Atlanta subway and clean up debris on I-285 and I-75. That’s a lot of hours, and being on the phone sucks, especially at night. But this year I already have $100,000.” He then went on to say that he hoped to bring it up to $160,000 by the end of the year.
5. Handmade jewelry business
Another unexpected entry was a user who is in the handmade jewelry business. “Most people will never suspect (may not even believe) what kind of money I make from this,” they commented.
Starting a business is one of the best ways to control your destiny and your income in the long run. Even a part-time job that allows you to earn an extra $1,000 a month can be a great start.
6 Union Elevator Mechanic
One man said he made six figures as a labor union elevator mechanic. After receiving a lot of questions about how to enter a trade, he answered:
“For anyone asking how to get into trading, visit NEIEP and see when there are vacancies near you CEIEP for those in Canada.”
7. Sales insurance
Any type of sales is an opportunity to surpass the six-figure mark in your career without much education. One user who makes over $100,000 said he was helped by insurance sales:
“Sales (in my case, insurance), especially if you don’t have a college degree or coding knowledge. However, being willing to be rejected frequently is a requirement, and it is a tougher requirement than most people recognize.”
8. Horizontal Directional Drilling
The average hourly wage for a directional drill technician is $42, which equates to about $87,000 per year. However, with more experience or a willingness to work overtime, you can easily surpass $100,000 a year.
So what the hell is horizontal directional drilling? These specialized drilling operators perform non-vertical drilling, typically in the oil and gas industry.
9. Transport agency
Another Reddit user mentioned that he owned a trucking agency that made $320,000 this year, making him close to half a million dollars a year.
Unlike long-haul truck driving (which can pay off pretty well on its own), a trucking or freight agency links businesses that need goods transported and carriers to each other and charges a commission on the sale.
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10. Millright / Heavy Equipment Technology
Looking for a blue collar job that brings in big money? The installer installs and maintains heavy industrial machines and equipment. The average locksmith earns around $63,000 a year, but the highest paid workers in the industry can earn up to $122,000 a year.
11. Construction Appraiser
A popular job that was mentioned by several Reddit users was construction appraisal. In this job, you are responsible for estimating the scope of construction projects and determining the total cost.
As you understand, the larger the project, the more important the correctness of the estimated cost, which means a higher payment. An appraiser has an average income of $101,000 and can earn much more with bonuses or years of experience.
12. UPS driver
Surprised that you can earn six figures as a UPS driver? One user who made $103,000 last year shipping boxes broke it. He earned $38 an hour and $57 overtime.
Although it took some overtime to earn $100,000, he didn’t work 70-80 hours a week. Just 48 hours a week can get you six figures.
13. Furniture repair
One user described his furniture repair business, which makes him $125,000 a year.
He advised aspiring furniture entrepreneurs: “It took me about ten years to get to this point, but if you can gain experience in antique restoration or custom woodworking, contact the warranty companies. [can help you get started]”.
14. Teacher
While it is true that the median teacher income is well below $100,000, with the right education, experience, and location, you can earn six figures as an educator.
One Redditor commented with just two words, “Teacher, New York.” While the high cost of living somewhat offsets the wages, more than 1 in 12 teachers in and around New York earn six figures. And in other parts of the country it is also not uncommon.
15. Data Analyst
Many users noted that their work as data analysts earned them $100,000 or more. According to LinkedIn, the average data analyst salary is $90,000 and can range up to $125,000 depending on experience and location.
If you enjoy spreadsheets and analysis, a Data Analyst position might be right for you. Although financial analysts are one type of data analyst, their field is much broader and includes many different types of analysis such as business, science, government, and medicine.
16. Handyman
With the rising cost of college education, there is a lot of interest in finding high-paying jobs that do not require a degree. One user noted that they can earn six figures as laborers with only a high school diploma.
“I started handyman at 24, started earning about $100,000 a couple of years later because you have to learn and get better — looking back, YouTube, being single-minded and fully involved from the start can accelerate that schedule,” he said.
17. Window tinting
Another Redditor commented on a guy who tints windows for a living.
“The other day a guy came to me to tint the windows of my car. He charged me $350 for the most premium ceramic paint. The dudes booked 3 weeks anytime.”
Then, in a conversation with him, he said that he services three cars a day, five days a week, which is $21,000 a month, or $252,000 a year.
“The dude himself tints the windows of cars. He listens to music and works calmly at his own pace. Charges much less than it can potentially charge. Still earning 250,000 a year.”
Sounds like a solid career for us.
18. Military officer
One user mentioned a different area, most people would be surprised to know that the six figures are military.
He said, “[the] housing allowance, combined with basic wages, is accumulating rapidly. Not much more than 100 thousand, but I can still give a six-figure figure.
19. Plumber
The thread featured many professions, and plumbing was no exception. A regular plumber can make good money, but to get more than six figures, you need to work overtime or have your own business where you can set your own rates and schedules.
For example, if you’re willing to rush and answer 24/7 plumbing emergency calls, you could get $100,000 or more quickly.
20. NPP operator
Not to be confused with a nuclear engineer (which is also a great way to make $100k but requires a lot more education), a nuclear power plant operator manages all the controls and equipment in a nuclear power plant. In most cases, you only need a high school diploma to get started, and the median salary is around $104,000 a year.
21. Air traffic controller
According to one user who works as an air traffic controller, you can earn a starting salary of $125,000 and end your career at around $200,000. As an air traffic controller, you help pilots from taxi to takeoff and return safely to landing at airports across the country.
Regarding education requirements, he said: “[you] need a high school diploma plus 3 or 4 years of work experience or a bachelor’s degree. [The job] requires the ability to do basic mathematical operations on the fly and a calm demeanor. I’ve been doing this for 12 years, the best job in the world.
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How to make $100,000 a year
Although a six-figure salary is no longer what it once was due to inflation, it can still provide a comfortable life. There are opportunities to earn $100,000 or more in just about any field if you’re willing to put in the effort or find a niche you can tap into.
And although many people think that it is impossible to find a high-paying job without a higher education, these ideas prove that this is not necessarily the case.
Andrew Herrig is the founder of Wealthy Nickel, where he writes about personal finance, jobs, and entrepreneurship. As an avid real estate investor and owner of several businesses, he has a passion for helping others create wealth and shares his family’s experiences on his blog. Andrew’s advisory board has been featured on CNBC, Entrepreneur, Fox News, MSN and more.
