By Jeff Gillis
When it comes to career aspirations, finding easy jobs that pay well is a common goal. After all, who doesn’t want to make a boatload of money doing work that they don’t find overly stressful? That’s the dream, right?
Luckily, there are options available. Plus, some of the easiest high paying jobs don’t require a ton of education, experience, or training. If you’re looking for fun jobs that pay well, here’s what you need to know.
What Is An Easy Job?
Before we dig into the easy high paying jobs you might want to consider, let’s pause for a moment and take a look at what an easy job actually is. First, a position doesn’t have to be boring or unchallenging to be easy. Second, it doesn’t have to be entirely stress-free, either.
Generally, “easy job” is a subjective term. It could mean that you enjoy the work, so you don’t find it stressful. Or it could mean that it doesn’t require a ton of specialized training, making it an option for nearly anyone. In some cases, it could be that handling the duties feels natural and comfortable.
JEFF'S TIP: For many, what seems “easy” connects to their inherent strengths. For example, people with drawing skills may find artistic roles qualify, while those who couldn’t draw their way out of a paper bag might not. Take stock of what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. That way, you can figure out what’s easy for you.
For the purpose of this list, an easy job is one that is reasonably low-stress and that many people find fun. That can make the work feel manageable and enjoyable, which are often key components to what people view as easy.
Top 18 Highest Paying Easy Jobs
Here’s a look at the top 18 easy jobs that pay well that you may be able to land in 2022.
1. House Sitter
If you’re looking for easy high paying jobs, don’t discount house sitter. Your main responsibility is simply to be present, ensuring a home doesn’t sit empty. Usually, there will be a few more duties, like watering plants, checking the mail, and maybe some light cleaning. But the bulk of your job is merely to show up and stay at another person’s house.
House sitters typically earn $25,944 a year, though the top 10 percent bring in $34,768. Plus, this role doesn’t necessarily prevent you from holding another job. If there’s Wi-Fi available, you could work remotely from there or freelance. As long as you aren’t required to be at that house 24/7, you could even head out to a regular job.
2. Personal Trainer
If you’d rather spend as much time as possible working out, then a career as a personal trainer could be your perfect option. You help other people get hit and boost their health, often working alongside them to ensure they use proper form and stay safe.
While you don’t technically have to have any formal training or licensing, getting a few certifications may boost your earnings potential. Making an annual salary of $40,390 is the norm, but those at the top of the field make in excess of $75,400, so bolstering your credentials could be worth the investment.
3. Optometrist
Yes, you do typically need a doctorate to become an optometrist, which means committing to quite a bit of schooling. But, once you’re done training and have your license, this can easily qualify as one of the easiest high paying jobs around.
Mainly, optometry work is easy because it’s straightforward. You determine a patient’s vision prescriptions, diagnose and treat certain eye diseases, and address eye injuries. Plus, you get to help people see better, and that’s pretty amazing.
In exchange for your expertise, earning $115,520 a year is typical. But the top 10 percent bring in $194,100+, showing just how lucrative this profession can be.
4. Flight Attendant
A fairly straightforward job, flight attendants make sure airline passengers are taken care of and that any issues are resolved. Now, this role isn’t automatically no-stress, as passengers (as the internet has shown time and time again) can get unruly at times. But most passengers are pretty mellow. Plus, you get to travel around, which can be enjoyable.
Usually, flight attendants earn $56,640 annually. However, you could make more than $80,940 over the course of your career.
5. Dog Walker
If you adore animals and aren’t afraid of having a job where scooping poop is a requirement, being a dog walker might be right up your alley. As long as you are walking the dogs for an appropriate length generally on schedule, you’ll probably succeed.
Often, this is a part-time position with the potential to have a lot of control over your earnings. Most owners don’t mind if you walk their pooch with others, so you could stack your gigs to make the most during an hour.
Animal care workers typically earn $12.02 per hour. However, some earn $18.57+, which isn’t bad considering no specific education or training is usually required.
6. Toll Booth Attendant
When it comes to simplicity, it’s hard to beat toll booth attendant. You’ll spend your time taking payments from passing vehicles and raising a gate to let them through. It really couldn’t be more straightforward.
While the median yearly salary of $28,401 may not sound like a lot, the top 10 percent do earn upwards of $36,818. Plus, some of these are state government positions, meaning they come with robust benefits packages, making the role more lucrative overall.
7. Massage Therapist
Becoming a massage therapist does mean getting some formal training and a license. However, if you enjoy helping people relax or helping people with certain physical conditions, it can be a great option.
Many massage therapists get to control their own schedule, though there are options for working full-time with clinics or retail spas. When it comes to pay, an annual salary near $42,820 is relatively common, though the top 10 percent draw in over $80.630.
8. Librarian
Book lovers may adore the idea of working at a library. The job focuses a lot on organizing, ensuring materials are in their proper place, and that, if anyone checks an item out, it’s recorded correctly. However, you may also get to help with events, which can be a fun change of pace.
With a Master’s in library science in hand, you could bring in $59,050 a year. As you gain experience, a salary of $93,050+ could be on the table.
9. Tour Guide
If you love your city or a specific educational destination – like a museum – and have wisdom to impart on visitors, working as a tour guide is a solid choice. When it comes to fun jobs that pay well, this can definitely qualify. You’ll spend your day having conversations with visitors, showing them the coolest stuff possible.
Generally, tour guides earn $27,600 a year. But the top 10 percent drawn in $45,850, which is pretty solid.
10. Private Tutor
If you excel in a particular subject and have some teaching skills, you can earn quite a bit as a private tutor. The work can feel like one of the easiest jobs around if enjoy assisting others and the topic you’re teaching.
Plus, it’s one of the most flexible options around. You can choose how many clients to take on and may be able to set your own schedule. On top of that, it’s a great job that teens are able to do. Along the way, earning about $39,350 a year is the norm. However, some of the best can make $87,290 or more.
11. Park Ranger
Would you love to spend nearly all of your time outdoors? Then you might find being a park ranger one of the easiest jobs around. You might lead tour groups through historic locations or simply ensure that visitors are safe.
In most cases, park rangers make $39,371 a year or so. Plus, since it’s typically a government job, a well-rounded benefits package usually comes with the position.
12. Pharmacy Technician
Looking for a healthcare job that doesn’t require a lot of education but still pays well? Then you’re in luck. When it comes to easy high paying jobs in the medical field that don’t make getting a degree necessary, pharmacy technician is a solid option.
After some on-the-job training, you’ll spend your time dispensing medication, speaking with customers, handling payments, and working with other medical professionals. Usually, you can earn $33,950 a year, though the top 10 percent bring in $49,130 or more.
13. House Painter
If you prefer something active that’s also pretty straightforward, working as a house painter could be right for you. You’ll spend most of your day applying various coatings, like primer, paint, or sealant.
Most painters learn the trade on the job, so, when it comes easy jobs to get, if you have the right attitude, this could be one. Along the way, making $40,280 a year is typical. However, the top 10 percent earn more than $67,560, which shows just how far this role can take you.
14. Sales Representative
A great option for social, persuasive people, sales reps can actually bring in some solid salaries. They mostly spend their time convincing other people to make purchases, extolling the virtues of a product or service, and answering questions from prospective buyers.
Depending on the niche, you could bring in around $53,310 to $63,000. That’s pretty great, considering you don’t necessarily need a degree to get started.
15. Voice Actor
If you have a pleasant or distinct voice, or have the ability to adjust how you sound to fit a situation, you may do well as a voice actor. These professionals spend their days reading scripts, which may be for commercials, video games, or voice-overs in television or film.
For some, this qualifies as one of the fun jobs that pay well. While it requires a certain amount of talent or skill, you may not need too much formal training. Your earning potential can vary, though making about $20.43 per hour isn’t unusual, and you may be able to work your way up to $60.41+ as you gain experience.
16. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
While the job title is a bit intimidating, nuclear power reactor operator is actually one of the easiest high paying jobs around. After you complete your training and get any licenses handled, your day often involves following various routines. It’s a roll that makes getting into a rhythm possible, which makes it relatively low-stress on most days.
Plus, it’s incredibly lucrative. Making $100,530 a year is pretty common, and the top 10 percent can earn $128,810 or more.
17. Medical Records Technician
If you enjoy keeping things organized, working as a medical records technician might be a great choice. Most of your responsibilities focus on ensuring paperwork is complete and where it belongs.
It’s possible to get started in this field without a degree, though a professional certificate can make it easier to get started. Then, earning an annual salary of $42,630 is typical, though some make over $71,150.
18. Truck Driver
For anyone who hears the call of the open road, being a truck driver might be one of the easiest jobs for you. Most of your time is spent, well, driving, though you may have some loading and unloading responsibilities, as well as recordkeeping duties, to handle, too. Also, many people don’t realize that truck driving can be done part-time!
How much you can earn may vary depending on your license level and whether you’re long haul. However, for tractor-trailer drivers, earning around $45,260 annually is normal, with some crossing over $66,840. If you focus more on local delivery driving, $32,020 is typical, with pay upwards of $65,400 being possible.
Putting It All Together
Ultimately, all of the roles above can qualify as easy jobs that pay well, depending on your skills and preferences. Take a look at them all and see if any may meet your needs. If so, then you may be able to make a healthy living without too much stress.
Thanks for reading!
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Jeff Gillis( Co-Founder and CTO )
Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site, with his work being featured in top publications such as INC, ZDnet, MSN and more.
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