30 High-Reward Occupations With Laid-Back Lifestyle

29. Self-Published Author

Amazon.com has revolutionized the way writers think about publishing. For years, no one took you seriously as a writer unless a publishing company deemed your work worthy. The downside to this model is that if a book does not sell like gangbusters overnight, the novels are returned to the author. Sometimes, the sales may not even be enough to cover the advance. So if you are a write, consider becoming a self-published author.

Instead of getting a traditional publishing deal, authors can directly upload their books for people to read on Kindle or Apple Books. This way, you will get paid directly for every single sale of your book, for as long as it is online. For most writers, they made a lot more money this way, and many have been able to turn it into a viable business. The average pay for a self-published author honestly depends on the quality of their work, and the number of sales.

28. Land Surveying

A land surveyor, or a “Geospatial Information Scientist” studies land and analyzes if it is a good location for a new home, school, or business. Typically, the job is simple. The surveyor takes their tool out to the location, and takes pictures and measurements. Normally, becoming a land surveyor only takes a few classes to get a certification. Some states expect an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree, as well as specific classes and licensing. The salary changes, depending on the state, but the pay can be anywhere between $40,000 to $70,000 per year.

27. Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician is responsible for filling prescriptions as they come in from a doctor. They get bottles of pills ready in paper bags. Sometimes, they will help a customer check out at the cash register of the pharmacy and answer questions, but other times, they may not have to deal with customers at all, and they get to fill out prescriptions quietly. Most of the time, patients are just happy to receive their medications. According to Indeed.com, Pharmacy techs make an average of $16.00 per hour.

26. Jeweler

If you love to be surrounded by bling, becoming a professional jewelry might be the perfect job for you. It is necessary to be able to tell the difference between real and fake gem stones and gold. There are gemology degrees out there, but there are few places that offer those courses. You would have to study online, or travel to a vocational school that actually teaches the subject. For example, New York has the Gemological Institute of America, which is considered to be one of the most well-respected schools, and they offer various programs for jewelry making, appraising, brokering, and more.

Some gemology certificate programs are only 6 months long, which is far easier than studying for a 4-year degree. In many states, becoming a jeweler is only a matter of apprenticing under a qualified professional, and learning their craft. According to Study.com, jewelers make an average of $37,060 per year.

25. Document Management Specialist

Imagine just how much paperwork a huge business needs to keep, especially when trying to manage hundreds of employees. Even in the digital age, there are still plenty of paper records left over from the past that need to be scanned or digitalized. Some companies choose to hire a document management specialist to help keep track of records, and know where to pull them up when necessary. An example of a document management specialists typical day might be searching through the digital records of an individual employee to see if they have enough paid time off accumulated to take a long vacation. According to OwlGuru.com, this job is actually very difficult to get, and they are usually found internally at the company where they have already worked for years. Corporate Document Management Specialists earn $87,310.

24. Medical Records Specialist

Every time you go to a new doctor, you are asked to fill out tons of paperwork. You are also required to sign documents before surgery. Prescription drugs, allergies, and medical history are all laid out on pieces of paper that are filed away in a manila folder with your name and birthdate. According to Indeed.com, a part-time medical records professional makes an average of $12.75 per hour.

23. Fashion Stylist

In movies and TV shows, fashion stylists tend to have a glamorous lifestyle. In some cases, this can be true, but most of the time, a stylist might work on set for a film, or for a magazine. Other stylists are freelancers who work one-on-one with wealthy clients. In order to qualify as a fashion stylist, you may have to go to fashion school, or at least be able to prove through social media that you have a great sense of style. According to Chron, stylist salaries range dramatically. On the low end, you will make $32,500, but on the high end, it could be $130,000.

22. Operations Research Analyst

An operations research analyst help to solve complex issues when running a business or organization. These analysts use math and statistics to analyze pricing, products sold, trends in the market, and more in order to help business leaders make their decisions. They usually work for insurance companies, finance firms, the government, or can work as independent consultants for large businesses. A typical work day is usually spent studying data in an office, and occasionally meeting with clients to discuss the results. For someone who loves business and statistics, doing that sort of work would be fun, rather than stressful. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an operations research analyst is $81,390 per year.

21. Audiologist

Audiologists are doctors who specialize in the health of people’s ears. This could either be a balance issue, hearing, or inflammation and infections. Normally, audiologists will run some tests with patients, and prescribe a treatment. The most common thing they do on a daily basis is giving hearing aids to elderly people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Audiologists make $75,920 per year.

20. Postsecondary Law Teacher

College professors who teach law are usually lawyers who choose to work part-time because they have a passion for teaching young people. Other times, law professors decided to stop being a lawyer and switch to a lower-stress lifestyle of being a teacher. Law is also one of those subjects where colleges have a more difficult time finding qualified professionals who are willing to take a pay cut, compared to being a lawyer. Therefore, colleges and universities usually pay law professors more than a more common subject, like English. According to AboveTheLaw.com, a full-time faculty law school professor makes $177,000 per year.

19. Molecular and Cellular Biologist

The day-to-day life of a molecular and cellular biologist is easy to predict; Running samples in a laboratory, looking into microscopes, and recording data. The experiments conducted by these scientists usually contribute to new medical breakthroughs. Normally, these studies take place a universities and research hospitals. According to OwlGuru.com, molecular and cellular biologists make an average of $77,830.

18. Photonics Engineer

Photonics Engineers specialize in fiber optics and laser technology. Nowadays, they are using lasers for just about everything- from light shows to skin treatments, to surgery. So there is a huge need for people specializing in this field. According to Recruiter.com, Photonics Engineers make anywhere between $64,000 and $96,000

17. Astronomer

If you love to stare at the stars and planets, you should seriously consider making it your career, because according to salary.com, the average pay is over $100,000 per year. Say what?! This makes a lot of sense, when you consider that the majority of jobs in astronomy will be with private space companies, and NASA. A strong background in science and math is necessary, and it is best to find a university that specializes in an astronomy degree.

16. Ergonomist

You know those fancy office chairs that claim to be “ergonomic”, or specialized to help the spine? Well, it only makes sense that there are people out there who do this for a living. Ergonomists make sure that humans stay healthy and comfortable interacting with technology. They might help design chairs, car seats, and more. In order to become an ergonomist, you need to have a background in physics, mathematics, occupational therapy, and biology. According to Recruiter.com, ergonomists make anywhere from $56,000 to $84,000 per year, depending on experience.

15. Solar energy systems engineer

As the years go on, solar energy is becoming more and more common in homes and businesses. With a growing demand for sustainable energy, there are plenty of career opportunities as a solar energy system engineer. According to EnvironmentalScience.org, solar engineers make $82,000 a year. Keep in mind that your opportunities and pay scale go up if you live in a sunny state like California or New Mexico, where solar energy is more common.

14. Applications software developer

Everyone uses apps on their cellphone. Even if they are tiny, they are actually complicated to make. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and a portfolio of pre-made apps available before you can land a job as an app developer. The pay changes dramatically, depending on what you manage to accomplish. Some people can sell an app for millions of dollars, while others are freelance developers who are paid a one-time-fee to make an app for a private company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, applications software developers make an average of $106,710.

13. Chemical engineer

The term “chemical engineer” is a really broad term that covers all kinds of different jobs. You might be working for the government, or you may work for a private company. You may even help to repair machines that study lab samples. The tasks can be anywhere from developing new products to helping optimize gasoline. But all of these usually start with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in chemical engineering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a chemical engineer is $102,160 per year.

12. Economist

Economists work on analyzing data in consumption, production, and the quality of people’s financial lives. They might work for the government, or as professors. Professional economists usually have a Master’s Degree or PhD in economics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that economists make an average of $102,490 per year.

11. Industrial Engineering Technologist

Today, most manufacturing is accomplished through machines. Warehouses need a technologist to help make sure all of these processes are running smoothly. With a job like this, there will be plenty of days where nothing goes wrong, and there is not a lot of stress to deal with. In some cases, it is possible to get a job like this with only an Associate’s Degree. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the average pay is $54,280 per year.

10. Nanotechnology Engineering Technologist

A nanotechnology engineer has to create, quality-test, and distribute technology on a small scale. This typically comes in the form of small microchips that are used in a number of different fields. This job usually requires a master’s degree. According to OwlGuru, Nanotechnologists make an average of $62,820 per year.

9. Mathematician

The term “mathematician” is a really broad term. This is usually an academic position, like a professor or a researcher. They may also work for the government to crunch numbers of statistics. As you might imagine, a mathematician gets to do math all day, every day. For people who grew up loving math, they genuinely enjoy doing this, and it’s not often stressful. According to PayScale.com, the average mathematician salary is $74,242.

8. Food Scientist

The word “food scientist” sound like the greatest job ever. It sounds like they get to eat new food all day long. In reality, these scientists are a variety of different tasks, depending on where they work. There are the ones who figure out the nutritional and calorie content that we see on food labels, while others create new processed food products. There are also food scientists who help aid farmers in their planting their crops more efficiently to feed the growing population. You will need a Bachelor’s Degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a food scientist is $62,910.

7. Cartographer and photogrammetrist

Even in modern times, there is still a huge need for people to make maps. This is especially important when zoning and planning for a new housing development. They also might assist in planning for emergency situations, like a natural disaster. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cartographers make an average of $63,990 per year.

6. Bioinformatics scientist

A bioinformatics scientist combines knowledge of biology with computer science. For example, they might study a certain genome. Maybe they will develop a new software to study DNA. Unlike other scientists, a bioinformatics scientists is typically studying samples without having to come in contact with any harmful chemicals. They work for private labs or universities. So their working conditions are very comfortable, and they are paid handsomely with the average salary sitting comfortably at $77,830.

5. Environmental Restoration Planner

As the name suggests, an environmental restoration planner will go to a specific area to take samples of water, soil, and air to check for levels of pollution. They also figure out how to resort the environment to make it clean again. This pays between $41,000 up to over $100,000. The pay will change depending on experience, and whether you are working for a private company, or the government. If you enjoy science, and enjoy being out in nature, it can be a very low-stress job, especially since you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to helping the environment.

4. Materials scientist

A materials scientist studies both natural and organic materials for their chemical makeup. This is a broad term that covers a variety of different specialties. For example, someone might specialize in developing new glass for phones or vehicles, while someone else experiments with rubber for tires. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean wage is $101,910 per year.

3. Remote Sensing Scientist

A remote sensing scientist uses satellite technology to study geographical data. This can be useful for managing natural resources, or examine a potential building site. The government usually utilizes these specialists for homeland security, as well. This job typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree with a background in computer science. According to OwlGuru.com, 69% of remote sensing scientists say that they feel a huge sense of job satisfaction, and that they have a low-stress lifestyle. The average pay is $98,240.

2. Fuel cell engineer

Fuel cells are typically used for large buildings like malls, schools, or businesses to help provide a large space with electricity. There are also fuel cells inside of brand new hydrogen cars and buses. A fuel cell engineer, as you can imagine, is someone who knows how to repair and maintain these fuel cells. In order to get this job, you will need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering. According to OwlGuru.com, 70% of fuel cell engineers feel very satisfied with their job. According to the breakdown of what people deal with on a day-to-day basis, it is mostly spending time answering e-mails and making a few phone calls, but there are very few times where they actually have to deal with clients or solve problems. Their skill set is highly valued, though, and they make roughly $88,000 a year.

1. Boilermaker

Boilermakers are one of the few careers left where it only requires a High School diploma and an apprenticeship. Their job is to follow blue prints that will help create, assemble, and install boilers. This can come in the form of a large boiler in a brewery, or in a water filtration system. So, it can be physically demanding, and you’re doing a tough job in a confined space, but if you love to make things and work with your hands, this could be a great option. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers can make over $62,260 per year, and the level of stress people report is low.