<p><strong>Do you want to pursue a career in healthcare but aren’t sure where to start? </strong>We got you.</p><p>The healthcare industry is MASSIVE, accounting for over <a href="https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/nhe-fact-sheet">17%</a> of the U.S.’s gross domestic product (GDP). It’s also the fastest-growing industry, with <strong>1.9 million job openings projected each year up to 2034</strong>, according to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>But it can be hard to know what path to pursue when there are so many areas to choose from, especially when you're not sure if you can afford the years of schooling required for many of them.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>You could explore different <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-healthcare-jobs">high-paying healthcare jobs</a>, such as physician paths that require 8+ years of education and training, or nursing paths that pay six figures but only require 2 to 4 years of school. <strong>We found a nurse in our Salary Database with a Bachelor’s degree who makes </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dnurse&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=highestEducation%3D64811ae7061f88ce2a2ce1d6">$130,000 a year</a><strong>.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Or you may want to explore paths in dentistry or optometry that require 1 to 3 years of schooling but still pay well. <strong>We interviewed a dental hygienist who makes $60 an hour (equivalent to around $120,000/year) and found another in our Salary Database making </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Hygienist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=highestEducation%3D64811ae7061f88ce2a2ce1d6">$134,000 a year</a><strong> with an Associate's degree, which typically takes 2 years.</strong></p>

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<p>Those aren’t all the possible medical career paths that exist, either, which is one of the reasons we put together this healthcare career quiz in the first place! There are 11 possible results to make sure we cover all the bases and find the best possible match for you. 😉</p><h2>Take The Free Healthcare Career Quiz</h2><p>Our free Healthcare Career Quiz only takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete and is not only based on what you’re curious about or what motivates you, but also on what schooling and work environment works for you. These factors are crucial to consider so that you can realistically plan for your future.</p><p><strong>Here’s what you’ll get:</strong></p><ul><li>Questions with multiple answers to take all of your interests into account and find your best match.</li><li>Personalized results with common job titles to explore, including next steps to start learning.</li><li>Free tools and resources to hit the ground running (or healing), including free courses, beginner guides, links to interviews with real-life healthcare professionals, and more!</li></ul><p><strong>Take the free quiz and start this next chapter in your life and career with clarity! 👇</strong></p>

healthcare career quiz desktop cover image with green background and illustration of healthcare professionals standing in a line with title text overlay that says healthcare career quiz

healthcare career quiz mobile cover image with green background and illustration of healthcare professionals standing in a line with title text overlay that says healthcare career quiz

Healthcare Career Quiz: What Healthcare Career is Right for You?

<p><i>Heads up: This article may include affiliate links or sponsored content from brands we trust. Using them doesn’t cost you anything and helps support our mission.</i></p><p><strong>The happiest jobs tend to have 4 characteristics: satisfaction, freedom, balance, and good pay (</strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/the-importance-of-salary-transparency"><strong>salary transparency</strong></a><strong> included). </strong>Based on 37,000 people that <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-acquisition/what-candidates-want-in-2025#:~:text=Compensation%2C%20work%2Dlife%20balance%2C%20and%20flexible%20work%20remain%20the,understanding%20what%20they%20truly%20value.">LinkedIn surveyed</a> in 2025, 63% of employees say that compensation and benefits are their top priorities when looking for a job. That’s not surprising. Money is kind of the whole reason we work in the first place.</p><p>If we’re working 40 hours a week, we’re spending a third of our lives toiling away for a paycheck. You might as well do something that you enjoy and makes you happy. That doesn’t mean it has to be your “passion” either. It could simply be a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/low-stress-jobs-that-pay-well">low-stress job that pays well</a>, is fulfilling, and has good job security.</p><p><a href="https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/data-at-work/data-stories/2025-eggshell-economy">BambooHR</a> reported that we’re currently in what they call an “eggshell economy”. Employees feel like they’re literally walking on eggshells at their jobs while economic tension looms and AI becomes more involved. Many are happy that they have jobs, but may not necessarily have a “happy job”. This shows us that what makes employees happy at their jobs shifts as our economy, technology, and job market shifts. Job security definitely goes into the happiness equation.</p><p>Even in an economy and mixed-up job market that we have now, there are still happy jobs that are both stable and high-paying. <strong>Let’s look at the top 9 to see where your skills and interests might fit.</strong></p><p><strong>Key findings:</strong></p><ul><li>The happiest jobs are real estate agents (4.2 out of 5 job satisfaction rating from <a href="https://career.io/career-advice/careers-that-make-americans-happiest">Career.io</a>) and surgeons (ranked most meaningful job by <a href="https://www.payscale.com/data-packages/most-and-least-meaningful-jobs">Payscale</a>).</li><li>Roles with the highest reported job meaning are surgeons (96%) and physical therapists (90%).</li><li>Out of the real professionals we interviewed, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, and firefighters talked the most about why they love their job.</li><li>The highest-paying happiest jobs from our Salary Database are surgeons, anesthesiologists, and civil engineers.</li><li>Happy jobs with the highest median salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are surgeons, anesthesiologists, and data scientists.</li><li>More than half of the jobs listed have a six-figure median salary and a third of them don’t require a college degree to get started.</li><li>Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>.</li></ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What makes a “happy job”?</h2><p>A happy job is exactly that. It’s a job that makes you happy. The job itself may not be the sole reason you’re happy but it supports <i>your </i>ability to be happy, because happiness is subjective. It’s a personal emotion, like anger, sadness, fear, and excitement.&nbsp;</p><p>A whole branch of psychology, called positive psychology, has been trying to define happiness since the 1990s. There’s no specific thing that makes everyone happy across the board. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/happiness">Psychology Today </a>comes close and defines happiness as, “a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life, one with a sense of meaning and deep contentment”.&nbsp;</p><p>A happy job is a job that’s meaningful and gives you the freedom to live your life how you want. Which brings us to the question, “What’s meaningful work to you?”.</p><p>I spoke to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewmccaskill/">Andrew McCaskill</a>, a LinkedIn Career Expert and author of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow/?entityUrn=7023713016630185985">The Black Guy in Marketing</a> newsletter, about how to find your own happy job and he says it best: “You have to approach your job search with clarity around your non negotiables and that list shouldn’t be long. <strong>Ask yourself: </strong><i><strong>What do I truly need most? What are the wants I can’t live without?”</strong></i></p><h2>9 Happiest Jobs With The Highest Pay</h2><p>We’ve identified the happiest roles that pay the most using job satisfaction data from <a href="https://career.io/career-advice/careers-that-make-americans-happiest">Career.io</a> and <a href="https://www.payscale.com/data-packages/most-and-least-meaningful-jobs">Payscale</a>, salary data we’ve collected in our public <a href="http://salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a> of over 13,500 salaries and 3+ years of <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-we-made-1million">street interviews,</a> and job data from the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh">U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> (BLS).</p><p>To find more about these happy jobs, search our Salary Database and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Transparent Job Board</a>. Don’t forget to <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/onboarding">join and add your salary</a>!</p><h2>1. Surgeon</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm#tab-5">$371,280</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DSurgeon&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$1.5M</a></p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>3%</p><p>Payscale asked 2 million workers about the most and least meaningful jobs and surgeons <a href="https://www.payscale.com/data-packages/most-and-least-meaningful-jobs">topped their rankings</a> at 96% reporting high job meaning and 83% reporting high job satisfaction. These include general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons who treat and operate on patients.</p><p>Even though this is definitely a high-stress job, surgeons have a huge impact on their patients’ lives and find a lot of fulfillment in that. It’s also the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-healthcare-jobs">highest-paying healthcare job </a>out there, but if this is something you want to do, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. The healthcare field is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are up to the task, the work is very rewarding!</p><p><strong>Required education:</strong> Bachelor’s degree in a science field, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (OD) from medical school, and a 3 to 9-year residency.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/xLvygd" rel="sponsored">Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology Fundamentals</a></p><h2>2. Anesthesiologist</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm#tab-5">$336,640</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DAnesthesiologist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$625,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>3%</p><p>A factor that contributes to healthcare workers’ happiness is that they’re 10% more likely to prioritize an inclusive workplace when compared to other industries, according to <a href="https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/resources/best-in-class-healthcare-hiring?trk=evp_blog">LinkedIn</a>. This could be one of the reasons that Payscale’s most meaningful jobs with the highest job satisfaction were healthcare jobs, with anesthesiologists being at number 2.&nbsp;</p><p>Anesthesiologists are the doctors who put you under for surgery so you don’t have to feel that pain in real time. They watch over you to make sure you don’t have any weird reactions and slowly bring you back to reality once it’s all over.&nbsp;</p><p>The hours can be long, but the job actually comes with a lot of balance. <strong>A cardiac anesthesiologist we interviewed has 4 kids and says that he never missed anything important. He makes $700,000 a year!&nbsp;</strong></p>

#CardiacAnesthesiologist in Phoenix, AZ📍#salarytransparentstreet #salarytransparency

<p><strong>Required education:</strong> Bachelor’s degree in a science field, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (OD) from medical school, and a 3 to 4-year residency. There are also other roles available in the anesthesia area that pay well and don’t require a doctoral degree, like <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/certified-anesthesiologist-assistant">certified anesthesiologist assistants</a>!</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/zxD6jM" rel="sponsored">Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us</a></p><h2>3. Data Scientist</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm">$112,590</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Ddata+scientist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$270,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034):</strong> 34%</p><p><a href="http://career.io">Career.io</a> analyzed over 750,000 job reviews to find what makes people happy at work and data scientists ranked as the most satisfying among highly-paid jobs (4.07 out of 5).&nbsp;</p><p>Data scientists are the professionals that are powering AI. They spend their days looking at data sets to find similarities in order to build machine learning models, like ChatGPT, which is a machine learning model called a large language model. There’s a lot of freedom, flexibility, and excitement that comes with a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-tech-jobs">high-paying tech job</a> like this. They get to have a first-hand look at how <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/will-ai-take-my-job">AI is changing our world</a> while getting to see their work make a real impact.&nbsp;</p><p>Plus, they often get to work remotely, independently, and their expertise is continually growing in demand, making it one of the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/top-jobs-of-2025">highest-paying jobs of the future</a>.</p><p>Andrew says to keep in mind that higher-paying positions like data scientists have other certain tradeoffs to consider besides things like work-life balance. “High earners often face deeper trade-offs: doing work they don’t enjoy or making decisions that conflict with their personal values.” Sometimes your values will conflict with the values of the organization you’re working in, regardless of how much you enjoy the technical work you do.</p>

Data Scientists Make How Much? 🤯 Data Scientist Salary Compilation 💚 Salary Transparent Street

<p><strong>Required education: </strong>Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science is preferred, but there are alternative ways to break in with courses, certifications, and putting together a portfolio. <strong>We interviewed a data scientist who makes $100,000 a year and got started with a few college courses.</strong></p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/4GXdxL" rel="sponsored">Foundations of Data Science</a></p><p><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">How to Break Into Tech and IT (With Tips From Real Tech Workers)</a></p><h2>4. Education Administrator</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm">$103,960</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DEducation+Administrator&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$100,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034):</strong> 2%</p><p>Education administrators help manage and run schools and school districts. They may plan class schedules, hire teachers, and even work with the community to get support for schools. They also do a ton of other things like organizing events and making sure the school follows laws and education rules. It’s a lot of responsibility but it’s also very satisfying when they get to see the impact they’re making in their community.</p><p><strong>We interviewed an educational administrator who makes $80,000 a year. </strong>When asked if he thought he was being fairly compensated, he expressed that $120,000/$130,000 would be closer to the market rate because of the knowledge and future career help you’re providing students. We agree!<strong> Educators are severely undervalued and should be paid more!&nbsp;</strong></p>

#Counselor and #EducationalAdministrator in New York City📍#salarytransparentstreet #paytransparency

<p><strong>Required education:</strong> Master’s degree in educational administration is required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/xLYnj3" rel="sponsored">Transforming Education in an Interconnected World Specialization</a></p><h2>5. Physical Therapist</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm">$101,020</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DPhysical+Therapist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$200,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>11%</p><p>Physical therapists are the doctors you go to when you’re recovering from an injury or procedure and need help getting back to your normal physical activities. Physical therapists safely guide you through physical training, stretching, and other activities to help you fully heal and get to your goals.&nbsp;</p><p>Payscale found that 79% of physical therapists reported high employee satisfaction and 90% reported high job meaning. <strong>We interviewed a physical therapist who makes $80,000 a year and she says the best part of her job is helping people and getting them back to doing what they love to do.</strong> Of course, dealing with people can be a challenge, but she loves it overall.</p>

How much does a #PhysicalTherapist make in📍Baltimore, MD? #salarytransparentstreet

<p><strong>Required education: </strong>Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is required. <strong>The physical therapist we interviewed spent 7 years in school: 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of physical therapy school.</strong></p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/xLYnjx" rel="sponsored">Science of Exercise</a></p><h2>6. Civil Engineer</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm#tab-5">$99,590</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dcivil+engineer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$500,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>5%</p><p>Imagine being able to build the real world around you, not just in video games. That’s essentially what a civil engineer does. They do all the things behind the scenes of what we see everyday in a stable and functioning city or town. They may design buildings and structures with sustainability in mind and plan roads to handle the volume of their population. They may also find ways to use water and land resources more safely.&nbsp;</p><p>Career.io ranked this job as their 4th high-paid job with the highest job satisfaction rate (3.95 out of 5). It’s a very cool job with a lot of freedom and flexibility, and not to mention, a good-looking paycheck too.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Required education: </strong>Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/PO7agj" rel="sponsored">The Engineering of Structures Around Us</a></p><h2>7. Real Estate Agent or Broker</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm#tab-5">$72,280</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dreal+estate+agent&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$400,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>4%</p><p>Career.io found that real estate agents have the highest job satisfaction rate across the board with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5. Real estate agents and brokers both work with people to buy or sell their home, and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-jobs-without-a-degree">neither one needs a college degree</a> to do it. The big difference between them is that agents must work under a broker. A real estate broker needs a broker license and can either work independently or for their own firm.&nbsp;</p><p>Real estate agents get paid in commission, which is the percentage they get after the house sells to account for the work spent helping the transaction go through. We had a few realtors sit down and talk about what they do in their roles, and they stressed that even though there is flexibility, there are times where they have to be available all of the time. They all stressed that their favorite part of their job is the people aspect.</p>

How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make? + Selling Sunset Reactions and More! | The Break Room Episode 1

<p><strong>Required education:</strong> High school diploma or GED. Real estate brokers need a broker license.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-principles-of-real-estate" rel="sponsored">The Principles of Real Estate</a></p><h2>8. Interior Designer</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm">$63,490</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dinterior+designer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$120,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>3%</p><p>Interior designers focus on either residential or commercial design and work with contractors to bring build plans to life. They may draw basic construction documents, plan how rooms are arranged, or pick the colors so everything goes well together. It’s a fun and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-creative-jobs">great-paying creative job</a> with good work-life balance and high job satisfaction. In fact, Payscale reports a 3.9 out of 5 job satisfaction based on <a href="https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Interior_Designer/Salary">1,364 survey responses</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We interviewed an interior designer in Boston who makes $60,000 a year after doing it for 2 years, and she says that it’s perfect for those who are good with people and have an eye for design.</strong> She also says the pay could be a little better though 😉.</p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLpuW96xuoZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLpuW96xuoZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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<p><strong>Required education: </strong>Bachelor’s degree in interior design is preferred, but it’s possible to break in with an Associate’s degree or internships and a strong portfolio.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/vPY2v3" rel="sponsored">MAYA Architecture - Setting Up Interior Floor Map</a></p><h2>9. Firefighter</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm#tab-5">$62,290</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DFirefighter&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$402,000</a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Job growth (2024-2034): </strong>3%</p><p>Career.io gives firefighters a high job satisfaction rating of 3.78 out of 5, even with how dangerous their job is. They put their life on the line to get up close and personal with wildfires, building fires, chemical fires, you name it. Putting them out and rescuing those in danger is no easy feat.</p><p>Obviously, the pay could be better, but firefighting is also a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-join-a-union">union job</a> and comes with great benefits, like healthcare coverage and overtime pay. Firefighters are a part of the <a href="https://www.iaff.org/">International Association of Firefighters </a>(IAFF) labor union who negotiates wages and benefits on behalf of its members. Unions are also common with many <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-trade-jobs">trade jobs</a>.</p><p><strong>We interviewed a firefighter who makes $92,000 a year after working for 3 years. They say they feel well compensated and the best part of their job is constantly being able to help people and work with a tight brotherhood and sisterhood. </strong>The job is definitely tough, but he says the guys and girls around you get you through it.</p>

How Much Do First Responders Really Make? EMTs, Police Officers...Shocking Salary Breakdown! 🚑💰

<p><strong>Required education:</strong> High school degree and on-the-job <a href="https://www.iaff.org/apprenticeship/">paid apprenticeship</a> with the IAFF.</p><h2>How to Find a Job You’ll Love</h2><p>Looking for a job you’ll absolutely love may take some trial and error. Talk to people that are doing the things you’re curious about. Ask them what they love and don’t love about their jobs, and don’t be afraid to <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/discussing-salary-with-coworkers">ask about the pay</a>. You can always tell them Salary Transparent Street told you to for your market rate research!</p><p>Start with the folks closest to you: your friends, family, work colleagues, and the people you’ve worked with in the past. Then get on LinkedIn and follow and connect with people that are doing the things you’d like to get into and look at their career paths they took. Look at what they post to see what their attitude is about the line of work they’re in. This is a tell-tale sign of how much they love or don’t love their job. <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/index.htm">Glassdoor reviews</a> can also help in a similar way.</p><p>Also look up companies on LinkedIn that you’d like to work for and follow them (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">including us</a>!). This is a little known trick that will help recruiters find you faster. People who follow the recruiter’s company come up first in their searches (which looks different than the search function we have on the normal side of LinkedIn).</p><p><strong>But what if you’ve been out of work for a while? </strong>Andrew has an important message for those with a gap in their resume who have a harder time landing a job. “For those who’ve been out of work for a while, there often comes a point where taking a <i>bridge role</i>, a job that gets you employed and earning again until you find the right next role, is the smartest move," says Andrew. "It’s not always easy to hear, but being employed can make job seeking much easier, both financially and psychologically.”</p><p><strong>For a little more help finding your career happiness, browse any of our free guides:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-get-into-a-trade">How to Get Into a Trade</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">How to Break Into Tech</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/healthcare-careers-guide">Healthcare Career Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/dental-career-guide">How to Start a Career in Dentistry</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-start-a-creative-career">How to Start a Creative Career (or Pivot to One)</a></li></ul><p>When you’re ready to start applying to jobs, use our free Transparent Job Board that shows salaries and salary ranges for each job listing, regardless of the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/pay-transparency-laws">pay transparency laws</a> in your state. Meaning that even if it isn’t required in your state, we list those salaries on our job board anyway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The job search process may take a little longer than normal, but this is where your network comes in. When you can’t get your resume to the top of the stack because AI sifts it out, go back to the humans. See who works at the company that you could reach out to. Work with recruiters who work to place people at different companies. Join online career groups like those on LinkedIn so you have people to talk to about the jobs they’re posting.</p><p>You might have to get a little creative, but we know you’ll do great!</p><p><strong>Author note: </strong>I’m Daniella Flores, a former software engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET Money Expert Review Board</a>, and career researcher that’s appeared in TIME, CNBC, and Investopedia (among many others). I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) If you want to connect, follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land your dream job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Don’t know what you want to do? Take any of our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/topic/quizzes">career quizzes</a>!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li></ul>

Happiest jobs desktop cover image with green background and illustration of different job titles and title text overlay that reads happiest jobs with the highest salaries

Happiest jobs mobile cover image with green background and illustration of different job titles and title text overlay that reads happiest jobs with the highest salaries

9 Happiest Jobs That Pay Over $60K in 2025 (+ What Real Employees Say)

<p><i>*This article was created in collaboration with the </i><a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways?utm_medium=earnedsocial&amp;utm_source=sts-ig&amp;utm_content=dental-careers&amp;utm_campaign=membervalue" rel="sponsored"><i>American Dental Association</i></a><i>.*&nbsp;</i></p><p>If you have a passion for oral health and an obsession with your own pearly whites, a dental career path might be worth exploring, especially if you love helping people and working with your hands.</p><p>The dentist workforce is continually growing and is expected to increase through 2040, according to <a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dentist-workforce?utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=sts-bl&amp;utm_content=dental-careers&amp;utm_campaign=professional">The U.S. Dental Workforce Report</a> from the American Dental Association (ADA). As we near the end of a baby boomer retirement surge in the field, opportunities are opening up for newer dentists. Meanwhile, hygienists and dental assistants are already in high demand.</p><p>In a world where the media is constantly telling us that <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/will-ai-take-my-job">AI will take our jobs</a>, the dental field (like many healthcare careers) is emerging as a more stable and safe job choice. It’s hard to automate hands-on and highly specialized job skills like the ones we see in dentistry. Plus, teeth are delicate, and I don’t know about you, but I feel more comfortable with a trained person caring for my mouth.</p><p>Dental professionals also have high job-satisfaction rates (<a href="https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/article/3/1/qxae147/7951759">80%</a>) with six-figure salaries to match. According to our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>, the highest publicly-shared salaries recorded were <strong>$1.5M for oral surgeons, $650,000 for pediatric dentists, and $500,000 for general dentists.</strong> The highest non-dentist role came in at <strong>$150,000 for dental hygienists</strong>. Pretty sweet deal, right? You’ll get to work on smiles while funding your own.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>In this dental career guide, you’ll learn how to plan and prepare for your new career, including what your options are, how to choose a school or program, and where to find jobs.</strong> You’ll also learn about the wealth of resources for dental professionals offered by the ADA, as well as salary data from our database, interviews, and other public data sources like the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> (BLS).</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What Types of Dental Career Paths Exist (&amp; What Do They Make)?</h2><p>There are many career paths within dentistry to explore, all of which have positive projected growth rates. Dentists and specialized dentists are projected to grow by 4% by 2034. Dental hygienists are projected to grow by 7%, with dental assistants not far behind at 6%, according to the BLS.</p><p>You don’t have to become a dentist to make good money either. Dentists aren’t the only lucrative dental career path that exists. There are many other roles, both clinical and non-clinical, that can still pull in six-figures.<strong> For example, we interviewed a dental hygienist that makes $55 - $60 an hour and an operations manager for a dental lab and dental practice who makes between $85,000 - $100,000 a year!</strong></p>

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<p>Let’s break down all of the possible dental professions out there and get to know them a little better 👇</p><p><strong>*The salary data below is sourced from the BLS for median salaries, and our Salary Database and Glassdoor for the salary ranges.*</strong></p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Job Title</strong></p></td><td><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Duties</strong></p></td><td><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>BLS Median Salary</strong></p></td><td><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>STS + Glassdoor Salary Range</strong></p></td><td><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Required Education</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td>Dentist (general)</td><td>Provides treatment and diagnosis for teeth and gums.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-1">$179,210</a></td><td><p>Part-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Ddentist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=1&amp;filters=jobType%3DPart-time">$38,000 - $300,000</a></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Ddentist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=jobType%3DFull-time">$67,000 - $400,000</a></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Contract:</p><p><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Ddentist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=1&amp;filters=jobType%3DContract">$60,000 - $350,000</a></p></td><td>DDS or DMD</td></tr><tr><td>Pediatric Dentist</td><td>Specialized dentists for infants and minors.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$225,770</a></td><td><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dpediatric+dentist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$50,000 (contract) - $650,000 (full-time)</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 2-3 year pediatric residency</td></tr><tr><td>Prosthodontist</td><td>Works on crowns, dentures, and implants.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$239,200</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-prosthodontist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,17.htm">$484,000 - $811,000</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 3 year prosthodontics residency</td></tr><tr><td>Orthodontist</td><td>Focuses on teeth and jaw alignment.&nbsp;</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$239,200</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DOrthodontist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$120,000 - $350,000</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 2-3 year orthodontics residency</td></tr><tr><td>Endodontist</td><td>Performs root canal therapy.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$225,770</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-endodontist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,14.htm">$424,000 - $751,000</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 2-3 year endodontics residency</td></tr><tr><td>Periodontist</td><td>Treats gum disease &amp; supports structures like the jaw bone.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$225,770</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-periodontist-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,15.htm">$252,000 - $471,000</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 3 year periodontics residency</td></tr><tr><td>Oral Surgeon&nbsp;</td><td>Performs oral surgeries, such as extractions &amp; reconstructions.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-5">$239,200</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DOral+Surgeon&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$400,000 - $1.5M</a></td><td>DDS/DMD &amp; 4-6 year surgical residency&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dental Hygienist</td><td>Cleans teeth while checking for disease and cavities.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm">$94,260</a></td><td><p>Part-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Hygienist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=jobType%3DPart-time">$77,000 - $125,000</a></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Hygienist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=jobType%3DFull-time">$54,000 - $150,000</a></p></td><td>Associate’s or Bachelor’s in dental hygiene&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dental Assistant</td><td>Assists dentists during procedures.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm">$47,300</a></td><td><p>Part-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Assistant&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=jobType%3DPart-time">$29,000 - $61,000</a></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Assistant&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=jobType%3DFull-time">$35,000 - $61,000</a></p></td><td>Certificate/diploma from a CODA program &amp; state-specific requirements</td></tr><tr><td>Lab Technician</td><td>Makes prosthetics like crowns and dentures.</td><td><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/dental-and-ophthalmic-laboratory-technicians-and-medical-appliance-technicians.htm">$45,820</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-dental-lab-technician-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,24.htm">$67,000 - $104,000</a></td><td>Associate’s degree or on-the-job training</td></tr><tr><td>Dental Office Manager</td><td>Manage admin and business operations of a dental practice.</td><td><a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-dental-office-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,24.htm">$66,000</a></td><td>Full-time: <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Office+Manager&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=industry%3DHospital%2C+Health+Care%2C+Social+Services">$67,000 - $92,000</a></td><td>Bachelor’s degree preferred with some dental office admin experience</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Dental salaries are some of the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-healthcare-jobs">highest-paying healthcare salaries</a> and may differ depending on your location and work environment. Dental healthcare workers with the highest salaries typically reside in Washington, Vermont, Alaska, and Delaware, while states with the lowest are Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Nevada, and Wyoming, according to the BLS <a href="https://data.bls.gov/oesmap/">Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Map</a> (a great resource to look at earnings across the country for any profession).</p><p><strong>We interviewed a dental assistant that makes $27 an hour in Virginia, which was better pay than what she got in Washington D.C.. </strong>Her next goal is to go back to school to explore dental hygiene.</p>

How much does a #DentalAssistant make in📍Arlington, VA?#salarytransparentstreet #salarytransparency

<p><strong>Working in dentistry means dental professionals have many different environments to choose from when deciding where to work:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Private practices: </strong>Small and mid-size practices owned by a dentist or dentists who oversee all parts of the practice.</li><li><strong>Group practices:</strong> Multi-location practices that generally outsources non-clinical duties (like HR, billing, etc.) to an outside or corporate entity. Generally, dentists here are employees and not owners.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Academic dentistry: </strong>Dental schools, universities and programs.</li><li><strong>Public health dentistry: </strong>Federal, state, and local agencies, like the U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), and Indian Health Service (IHS).</li><li><strong>Dental laboratory:</strong> A facility that works with dental practices without a lab on-site to make custom devices like crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants.</li><li><strong>Research: </strong>Research at universities, private industry, and federal facilities, like the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the National Institutes of Health.</li><li><strong>International healthcare: </strong>International agencies, like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).</li><li><strong>Hospital dentistry: </strong>Hospital settings.</li><li><strong>Nonclinical: </strong>Working in dental or other industries but not practicing.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>How to Choose a School or Program</h2><p><strong>For Dentists:</strong><br>When choosing a dental school, look for schools that are accredited by the <a href="https://coda.ada.org/find-a-program">Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)</a>. There are more than 60 schools that have this accreditation and you can use the CODA website to search for predoctoral, allied, or advanced dental education programs. To apply, use the central <a href="https://aadsas.cas.myliaison.com/applicant-ux/#/login/#%2Flogin%2F">American Association of Dental Schools Application Service</a>. All dental schools also require applicants to take a <a href="https://www.ada.org/education/testing/exams/dental-admission-test-dat">Dental Admissions Test</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degrees typically take four years to complete, plus additional years for dental specialties like oral surgery. Dentists must also be <a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/licensure">licensed</a>. Expect to take courses like anatomy, microbiology, and biochemistry, among many others. The last two years is when the real fun starts and you spend most of your time with clinicals and patient care.</p><p>Average tuition costs vary by program and career path, <strong>but can total up to $400,000 for all four years, according to the </strong><a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-education"><strong>ADA</strong></a><strong>. </strong>Luckily, there are financial aid options like dental scholarships, grants, fellowships, and assistantship options if you want to try and avoid student loans.&nbsp;</p><p>The <a href="https://www.asdanet.org/index/dental-student-resources/scholarships">American Student Dental Association</a>, <a href="https://www.adea.org/home/education/ADEA-Scholarships-Awards-and-Fellowships/for-students">American Dental Education Association (ADEA)</a>, and <a href="https://ndafoundation.org/">National Dental Association Foundation</a> are all websites that you can use to find available programs. The ADA also offers <a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/students/manage-your-finances">financial resources</a> on their website.</p><p><strong>For Dental Team Members:</strong></p><p>Dental hygienists, assistants, and other dental team roles require less schooling, and can get started with an associate’s degree or other <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-trade-jobs">trade job</a> programs. However, a bachelor’s degree might help you command better pay and flexibility, but equivalent experience is just as valuable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Learn more about each of these and where to find CODA accredited programs:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways/dental-hygienist">Dental hygienist resources</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways/dental-assistant">Dental assistant resources</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways/dental-laboratory-technician">Dental lab technician resources</a></li></ul><p>There is no CODA-accredited program for<a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways/dental-office-manager"> dental office managers</a>. Typically, dental office managers have a variety of educational backgrounds. Some dental office managers have bachelor’s or associate degrees or some other type of formal education. But there are a variety of other educational opportunities available outside of a college or university setting and many can also learn on the job.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.adha.org/education/">American Dental Hygienist Association</a> (ADHA), <a href="https://adaausa.org/">American Dental Assistants Association</a> (ADAA), <a href="https://www.danb.org/">Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)</a>,&nbsp; <a href="https://www.nadl.org/">National Association of Dental Laboratories</a> (NADL), and <a href="https://www.dentalmanagers.com/">American Association of Dental Office Management</a> (AADOM) can help you find more information on education requirements, any required state licensing, and open job opportunities.</p><h2>Where to Find Dental Jobs</h2><p>The ADA Career Center is the best place to start your job search. Because dentistry is such a specialized area, you should start your job search with dental-specific job boards. The <a href="https://careercenter.ada.org/">ADA Career Center</a> is the perfect example. You can browse jobs in the many areas of dentistry, search for employers, and get career advice.</p><p>Our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Salary Transparent Job Board</a> can be your next stop to find more jobs in dentistry. All job listings have the salary range listed with important points about the job in an easy-to-read format.&nbsp;</p><p>Other helpful job search tools are federal job boards like the <a href="https://vacareers.va.gov/careers/dentist-jobs/">VA </a>and the classifieds in your <a href="https://myaccount.ada.org/s/searchdirectory?id=a2I8V000001yE6O&amp;_gl=1*w2pxiu*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NTk3Njg2NzEuQ2owS0NRancwWTNIQmhDeEFSSXNBTjc5MzFWWC1HMzVBYlljVDdhX3BmZGkybVdVbnVwSU9ZTTBueW16WVVnbkNwdDl2VlpBTDVSNWhYRWFBdVExRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDM5NjQzMTAyLjE3NTQwNTk4NzA.*_ga*MTU3ODc1NTQ3MS4xNzU0MDU5ODcw*_ga_NJ0EYRGSL1*czE3NjAwMzI3MTIkbzE1JGcxJHQxNzYwMDM0MTQwJGoyMyRsMCRoMA..*_ga_X8X57NRJ4D*czE3NjAwMzI3MTIkbzE1JGcxJHQxNzYwMDM0MTQwJGoyMyRsMCRoMA..*_ga_NVSBFQCBYE*czE3NjAwMzI3MTIkbzE1JGcxJHQxNzYwMDM0MTQwJGoyMyRsMCRoMA..*_ga_JDE0LTHGWL*czE3NjAwMzI3MTIkbzE1JGcxJHQxNzYwMDM0MTQwJGoyMyRsMCRoMA..">state’s dental association</a>.</p><h2>Next Steps: Resources for Students &amp; Professionals</h2><p>Other ways to take the next step towards a career in dentistry is to seek out entry-level work at dental offices or shadow other dental workers while you’re finishing your schooling. Reach out to those already in the field building their careers and get their perspective about what they would or wouldn’t do differently.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/discussing-salary-with-coworkers">Talk to them about their salary</a> too and any <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/negotiate-salary-offer">salary negotiation tips</a> they used when landing their first few dental jobs. Depending on the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/pay-transparency-laws">pay transparency laws</a> in your state, this information may or may not already be available when looking through current job listings.&nbsp;</p><p>They may also have tips for how they paid for dental school and either joined or started a dental practice. Then apply that advice to your own situation. &nbsp;</p><p>The ADA has a wealth of resources for new students and current dental professionals on their <a href="https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-pathways?utm_medium=earnedsocial&amp;utm_source=sts-ig&amp;utm_content=dental-careers&amp;utm_campaign=membervalue" rel="sponsored">Career Hub</a>. Take full advantage of it for guidance and resources straight from dental experts that can help you start from ground zero and grow your career from there.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>If you want to learn more about other careers, check out our other recent free career guides:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/healthcare-careers-guide">Healthcare Career Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-get-into-a-trade">How to Get Into a Trade</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">How to Break Into Tech</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-start-a-creative-career">How to Start a Creative Career (or Pivot to One)</a></li></ul><p>Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella Flores, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET Money Expert Review Board</a>, and career researcher that’s appeared in TIME, CNBC, and Investopedia (among many others). I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land your dream job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Looking for a job? Start your job search on our salary transparent <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/jobs">job board</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Don’t know what you want to do? Take any of our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/topic/quizzes">career quizzes</a>!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!<br>&nbsp;</li></ul>

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How to Start a Career in Dentistry (+ Tips From Real Dental Professionals)

<p><i>Heads up: This article may include affiliate links or sponsored content from brands we trust. Using them doesn’t cost you anything and helps support our mission.</i></p><p><strong>Low-stress jobs that pay well are more common than you think.</strong> We actually found 12 <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-jobs-without-a-degree">high-paying careers</a> offering salaries over $70,000 that don't require you to be “on” 24/7, and not all of them require a 4-year college degree.&nbsp;</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> (BLS) data and <a href="https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/1.C.4.b">stress tolerance ratings</a> from the U.S. Department of Labor’s sponsored site, O*NET, positions like water resource specialists ($161,180 median salary), quality assurance testers ($131,450), and actuaries ($125,770) combine high pay with a strong work-life balance, which are the 2 main factors we included when ranking these jobs.&nbsp;</p><p>Your job has a huge effect on your mental health. When your work is always stressing you out, it’s hard to think clearly and take care of yourself. According to a 2024-2025 report from Mercer, an HR consulting firm, <strong>82% of employees are at risk of burnout</strong>, with some even citing stress-related illnesses. That’s a huge number.&nbsp;</p><p>A high salary with high stress versus a well-paid job with minimal stress? I’ll take the latter. But for someone else who wants a certain high-stress job because they love it, the pay and perks may be worth it to them. It’s all about what your priorities and interests are, and what is particularly stressful for you.</p><p><strong>In this article, we'll dive into the top 12 low-stress high-paying jobs, what they do, specific salary ranges, why they're low stress, and how you can find one of your own.</strong></p><p><strong>Key takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li>Half of the 12 top-earning careers with the least stress don’t require a bachelor’s degree and accept associate’s degrees, certifications, portfolios, and bootcamps or courses to break in.</li><li>9 out of 12 of the jobs listed offer flexible and remote work options for better work-life balance.</li><li>9 out of 12 jobs have strong job security with faster-than-average growth rates, including data scientists leading at 34% projected growth through 2034.</li><li>Environmental economist ranks as the least stressful high-paying job with a stress tolerance ranking of 52 and a median salary of $115,440.</li><li>The highest-paying low-stress jobs from our Salary Database are environmental economists and data scientists.</li><li>Low-stress jobs with the highest median salaries according to the BLS are water resource specialists and quality assurance testers.</li><li>Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>.</li></ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What are low-stress jobs?</h2><p>Low-stress jobs are jobs that don’t come with a lot of pressure. The workload and stress are manageable, there’s a clear work-life balance, and your mental energy isn’t left depleted every day.</p><p>They often require <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/high-income-skills">specialized skillsets</a> and expertise rather than being productivity based, meaning you aren’t constantly hounded for performance metrics or racing against aggressive deadlines. This also rules out roles with urgent duties like on-call shifts and “jack of all trades” responsibilities.&nbsp;</p><p>Having said that, what’s considered stressful is personal. What you consider to be less stressful may actually be more stressful for someone else. We all have different interests, work styles, lifestyles, and social skills.&nbsp;</p><p>Plus, our brains aren’t all the same. Keep this in mind as you research the different jobs from this list. Also be sure to look for jobs at companies that provide supportive benefits like affordable healthcare coverage (mental health included), flexible or remote work, ample time off, and family and caregiver support.</p><h2>How We Ranked These Low-Stress High-Paying Jobs</h2><p><strong>Main factors we looked at when identifying high-paying jobs with the least amount of stress:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Salary:</strong> Roles were identified using data we’ve collected in our public <a href="http://salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>, first-hand experience from <a href="https://youtube.com/@salarytransparentstreet?si=6dQt5ybqNmQi8Q0p">our interviews</a>, and job data from the BLS. High salaries provide more financial stability and also reduces any money-related stress.</li><li><strong>Stress tolerance data from O*NET:</strong> Jobs with stress rankings below 75, except for a few jobs that we explain their tradeoffs.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Manageable workload:</strong> The workload is realistically for 1 person and manageable without feeling scattered or having to work late or on weekends.</li><li><strong>Work-life balance:</strong> They don’t eat up all of your free time and don’t involve emergency work or a lot of overtime.</li><li><strong>Flexibility or remote work options:</strong> There’s a flexible work culture or remote work options available. We included 9 <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-remote-jobs">jobs that can be done remotely</a>.</li><li><strong>Autonomy:</strong> There’s some freedom and control over how you do your work without heavy supervision or micromanagement.</li><li><strong>Social involvement: </strong>Job options with limited social interaction, with also a few that do for those who are more social.</li><li><strong>Job satisfaction and security:</strong> High-satisfaction jobs with faster than average job growth over the next 10 years.</li></ul><h2><strong>12 Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Well &amp; Keep You Sane in 2025</strong></h2><p>These roles span healthcare, technology, finance, and environmental sectors with options for different work styles and personalities. To find more salary and job data, search for any of the below positions in our <a href="http://salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a> or <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Salary Transparent Job Board</a>. Don’t forget to <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/onboarding">join</a> and add your salary too!</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>1. Water Resource Specialist or Engineer</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/natural-sciences-managers.htm#tab-1">$161,180 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DWater+Resource+Engineer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$125,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 4%</p><p>As the highest-paying role on this list with one of the lowest stress rankings (59), water resource specialists have a structured job where they manage water systems like municipal water supply systems so their communities have access to clean water. It’s low stress because of the predictable work schedule with standard business hours, especially if they work for a government agency, and over half of the work is spent working independently. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>What’s required:</strong> Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, hydrology, or similar area is typically required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/BngAeB" rel="sponsored">Sustainable Urban Water Systems</a></p><h2>2. Quality Assurance (QA) Tester or Engineer</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm">$131,450 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DSoftware+Tester&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$170,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034): </strong>15%</p><p>QA testers run different software tests to find existing bugs and what’s causing them, while QA engineers are the ones who develop the automated tests they run. However, both duties may be combined into one role. It depends on the company and how their teams are structured.</p><p>This role has much lower stress levels than other <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-tech-jobs">high-paying tech jobs</a>. They have a standard work schedule with a lot of flexibility and remote work opportunities, and no on-call rotations like tech support roles have.</p><p><strong>On an interesting side note: </strong>We interviewed a government contractor who also works part-time as QA engineer. They stated that the additional role helps them keep their sanity in an unstable job market.</p>

<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet/video/7368520412881325354" data-video-id="7368520412881325354" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@salarytransparentstreet" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet?refer=embed">@salarytransparentstreet</a> How much does an <a title="overemployed" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/overemployed?refer=embed">#overemployed</a> <a title="uxdeveloper" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uxdeveloper?refer=embed">#UXDeveloper</a> and part-time <a title="qaengineer" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/qaengineer?refer=embed">#QAEngineer</a> make? Washington, DC📍 <a title="salarytransparentstreet" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/salarytransparentstreet?refer=embed">#salarytransparentstreet</a> <a title="salarytransparency" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/salarytransparency?refer=embed">#salarytransparency</a> <a title="paytransparency" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/paytransparency?refer=embed">#paytransparency</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Salary Transparent Street" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7368520525187975982?refer=embed">♬ original sound - Salary Transparent Street</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

<p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar area, or QA bootcamps and certifications. <strong>We also interviewed a former professional baseball player who was able to</strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/from-baseball-to-law-to-tech"><strong> </strong>pivot their career to software QA testing</a><strong> through a QA Bootcamp!</strong></p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/LK6vxY" rel="sponsored">Software Quality Assurance and Testing</a>&nbsp;</p><h2>3. Actuary</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/actuaries.htm">$125,770 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dactuary&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$220,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 22%</p><p>Actuaries are like data analysts, but they’re solely focused on analyzing financial risk for things like insurance and financial planning (such as pensions and a company’s <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/401k-rollovers">401(k)</a> offering). With a stress rating of only 57, this role is seen as pretty low stress due to factors such as a collaborative work environment and the job security from a growing demand for their skill set (set to grow by 22% by 2034).</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, mathematics, or statistics is preferred.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/7aPQdg" rel="sponsored">Business and Financial Modeling</a></p><h2>4. Environmental Economist</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/economists.htm">$115,440 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DEnvironmental+economist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$850,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 1%</p><p>Environmental economists are economists that use statistical techniques to analyze how we use the natural environment, like water and land, and protect it. It’s perfect for those looking for a job where they can contribute to the cause of protecting our beautiful earth. This role has the lowest stress ranking of 52 from O*NET. It’s also seen as low stress because of the job satisfaction it provides and a flexible environment where they can work independently.</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental economics is typically required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/DyoJB2" rel="sponsored">Environmental Economics</a></p><h2>5. Data Scientist or Analyst</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm#tab-1">$112,590 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DData+Scientist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$270,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 34%</p><p>A data scientist looks at large datasets, often across several systems, to find similarities and relationships to build machine learning models and AI agents. Without their work, we wouldn’t have AI. The demand for their expertise is growing faster than any other role on this list (34%), making it one of the<a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/top-jobs-of-2025"> best-paying future jobs</a> to watch.&nbsp;</p><p>The role has a lot of autonomy with flexible and remote work options (which also ranked it as one of our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/happiest-jobs">happiest jobs</a>), but stress definitely depends on the company they work for. Government and research roles tend to be lower stress than startups, finance, or roles with direct revenue impact.</p>

<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet/video/7340714355572411690" data-video-id="7340714355572411690" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@salarytransparentstreet" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet?refer=embed">@salarytransparentstreet</a> How much do Data Scientists make? Watch this compilation to find out! Which interview surprised you most? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️ 0:00 Philadelphia, PA ($110K) 0:28 Chicago, IL ($100K) 2:12 Denver, CO ($245K) 4:15 Salt Lake City, UT ($101K) 5:57 San Francisco, CA ($250K) 6:27 San Francisco, CA ($300K+) <a title="salarytransparentstreet" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/salarytransparentstreet?refer=embed">#SalaryTransparentStreet</a> <a title="salarytransparency" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/salarytransparency?refer=embed">#SalaryTransparency</a> <a title="paytransparency" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/paytransparency?refer=embed">#PayTransparency</a> <a title="datascientist" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datascientist?refer=embed">#DataScientist</a> <a title="datascientistsalary" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datascientistsalary?refer=embed">#DataScientistSalary</a> <a title="datascientistpay" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datascientistpay?refer=embed">#DataScientistPay</a> <a title="breakintodatascience" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/breakintodatascience?refer=embed">#BreakIntoDataScience</a> <a title="datasciencejobs" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datasciencejobs?refer=embed">#datasciencejobs</a> <a title="breakintotech" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/breakintotech?refer=embed">#breakintotech</a> <a title="datasciencecertification" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datasciencecertification?refer=embed">#datasciencecertification</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Salary Transparent Street" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7340714536757906222?refer=embed">♬ original sound - Salary Transparent Street</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

<p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or data science is preferred, but there are ways to break in via bootcamps and putting together a portfolio (from bootcamp learning, personal projects, or freelancing).</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/QjDW36" rel="sponsored">Python for Data Science, AI &amp; Development</a></p><h2>6. Statistician&nbsp;</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/mathematicians-and-statisticians.htm">$104,350 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dstatistician&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$175,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 8%</p><p>Similar to data scientists, statisticians also analyze data to find relationships and make decisions, but not for the point of programming or machine learning. Their work uses statistical methodology and mathematical theory, mainly used in research. It’s low stress because their work is project-based with a lot of independence and they work in settings with less pressure, such as academics and research.</p><p><strong>What’s required:</strong> Bachelor’s degree in statistics or mathematics is preferred.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/bOX0rm" rel="sponsored">Introduction to Statistics</a></p><h2>7. Dental Hygienist&nbsp;</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm#tab-1">$94,260 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3DDental+Hygienist&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$150,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034): </strong>7%</p><p>Dental hygienists work with many patients a day to improve their oral hygiene and prevent disease through routine dental cleaning, taking x-rays of teeth to assess their health, and supporting dentists in their work (like procedures, etc).</p><p>Even though dental hygienists’ stress is rated a little higher than the others on this list (86) due to physical demands and difficult patients, their job has lower levels of stress when compared to other <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-healthcare-jobs">top-paying healthcare jobs</a>. They have a consistent daily routine, regular hours where they don’t take their work home, and a stable job with low unemployment rates.</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong>Check out our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/dental-career-guide">Dental Career Guide</a> (with tips from real dental professionals)!</p><h2>8. Technical Writer</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm">$91,670 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dtechnical+writer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$125,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 1%&nbsp;</p><p>Technical writers create technical content, but the audience they write for depends on the specific technical writing job they have. Technical writers may write for developers, document internal development changes and release notes, document entire systems and APIs, create product and how-to documentation, and write technical blogs.</p><p>There’s a lot of freedom and independence in this area (with some collaboration) and many roles can be done remotely. There’s also no on-call or emergency support work required, making this a lower-stress job than other roles in tech. As a technical writer myself, I can vouch for this 😄.</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems is preferred, but many companies accept courses, certifications, and a portfolio of personal or freelance projects as alternatives.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/LK6WBo" rel="sponsored">Introduction to Technical Writing</a></p><h2>9. Financial Examiner</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm">$90,400 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dtechnical+writer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$90,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034): </strong>19%</p><p>Financial examiners help banks and financial companies make sure they’re following the rules. They’re like the auditors of the financial world. They check the books, review records, and compare processes against government regulations and guidelines. &nbsp;</p><p>It sounds high-stakes, which it definitely is, but it’s mostly quiet desk work that is methodical. The hours are normal business hours and deadlines are planned and reasonable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance is required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job:</strong> <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/N9LmjK" rel="sponsored">Financial Accounting: Master Core Concepts &amp; Analysis</a></p><h2>10. Sonographer</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm#tab-1">$89,340 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dsonographer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$230,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034):</strong> 13%</p><p>Working as a sonographer is a great <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-trade-jobs">trade job that pays well</a> and is moderate to low stress. Their job consists of operating ultrasound devices and producing images for doctors to use for diagnoses and monitoring.</p><p>Even though there is a pressure to be accurate in every task and they mainly work with the public, which could be seen as high-stress, they also have set hours, predictable pre-set schedules, and stable job security.</p><p><strong>What’s required:</strong> Associate’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is required.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: &nbsp;</strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/Wy9jn3" rel="sponsored">Visualizing the Living Body: Diagnostic Imaging</a></p><h2>11. Compliance Officer</h2><p><strong>Median salary:</strong> <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/compliance-officers.htm">$78,420 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database:</strong> <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Dcompliance+officer&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$215,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034): </strong>3%</p><p>Similar to financial examiners, compliance officers make sure their organization is following laws and regulations, while also hitting all the boxes with internal policies. But their work isn’t siloed to the financial industry. The stress level of this job depends on the industry they work in. Lower-stress roles exist in smaller companies and advisory roles, while higher-stress are in healthcare and tech.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Bachelor’s degree in business administration, law, or similar is required.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/9Lkr15" rel="sponsored">Regulatory Compliance</a></p><h2>12. User Experience (UX) Researcher</h2><p><strong>Median salary: </strong><a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/market-research-analysts.htm">$76,950 per year</a></p><p><strong>Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: </strong><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=job_title%3Duser+experience+researchers&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=">$178,000 per year</a></p><p><strong>Job outlook (2024-2034): </strong>7%</p><p>UX researchers design projects to study how the general public interacts with different things, like products and websites. They’ll conduct research studies and observe behavior to advocate for consumers and make sure they get the products they actually <i>want </i>to use.&nbsp;</p><p>The job is on the calmer side because there’s no emergency work involved, they have a<a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/best-things-about-working-in-ux/"> high rate of job satisfaction</a>, and the hours are standard with many roles being remote. It’s an interesting job with the ability to work independently and be creative.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What’s required: </strong>Bachelor’s degree preferred in areas like information science and sociology, but courses and creating your own projects for a portfolio may fill requirements for some companies.</p><p><strong>Learn the skills for this job: </strong><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/kO6N5L" rel="sponsored">User Experience Research and Design</a></p>

<h2><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2><h2>What is the least stressful job with high pay?</h2><p>The least stressful job with the highest pay is an environmental economist. They have the lowest stress ranking of 52 out of all of the six-figure jobs listed on O*NET’s stress tolerance rankings.</p><h2>What is the best-paying lazy job?</h2><p>What one considers as lazy is subjective, but they’re often jobs that can be done remotely and are low-pressure. Best-paying lazy jobs include participating in online research studies, pet sitting and house sitting, and working as a virtual assistant. Data entry jobs are still great lazy jobs but aren’t as common because of automation.</p><h2>What are low-stress jobs for introverts?</h2><p>Introverts excel when they have autonomy and can work independently, so any job that pays well and fits those requirements is golden. Low-stress jobs for introverts include QA testing, accounting, technical writing, <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/freelance-ghostwriter">ghostwriting</a>, virtual assisting, data analysis, and jobs in research and development.</p><h2>How to Find Jobs That Won’t Stress You Out</h2><p>To find open low-stress jobs with great pay, start with our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Transparent Job Board</a> that has salaries listed for every role. Pair this with the tool, <a href="https://www.mynextmove.org/">My Next Move</a>, a part of O*NET that’s sponsored by the Department of Labor, which has more information about each job and where to find training.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We also recommend these job search tools from our partners:</strong></p>

<p>Remember that every job has some degree of stress. It’s important that you know what your thresholds are when picking a job that’s both good for your mental health and your wallet. 💸</p><p><strong>Author note: </strong>I’m Daniella Flores, a former software engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET Money Expert Review Board</a>, and career researcher that’s appeared in TIME, CNBC, and Investopedia (among many others). I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land your dream job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Looking for a job? Start your job search on our salary transparent <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/jobs">job board</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Don’t know what you want to do? Take any of our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/topic/quizzes">career quizzes</a>!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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12 Low-Stress Jobs That Pay Well in 2025 (All Pay Over $70k)

<p><strong>Free flights and a 401(k) match? Sign me up! </strong>But no, seriously, these are real-life benefits that come with becoming a flight attendant. There’s <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-jobs-without-a-degree">no degree required</a> for the job, and you can make a decent living while flying around the world!</p><p>Flight attendants also aren’t likely to be <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/will-ai-take-my-job">replaced by AI</a> anytime soon. They’re “safety professionals” with the human element being the most essential part of their job.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>But, what’s the job really like? </strong>We sat down with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NicksDynasty">Nick Alston</a>, a mainline flight attendant we interviewed in Boston, to learn more about the job and how much you can expect to earn in this type of career.&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s a fun adventure,” Nick shared. “One day you could be in a small Midwest town and the next at the beach in Lagos. Each day is different.” ✈️</p>

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<h2><strong>Why Nick Chose to Become a Flight Attendant</strong></h2><p>Nick was working as a shift manager for a company that operated three food trucks when he first heard about the role from a rugby teammate. The work sounded steady, but what really caught his attention were the travel perks and higher earning potential of the airline industry.</p><p>“He had a high <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/401k-rollovers">401k</a> match, he could fly for free, and he was making more money than me at the time,” Nick said. “It also sounded like he had an amazing work-life balance. I thought the job would put me in a great position to achieve my future goals.”</p><p>That conversation sparked something in Nick, and he began applying to every airline he could.<br>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to Become a Flight Attendant</h2><p>Even though you don’t need a college degree or experience to become a flight attendant, there are still a few other requirements you’ll have to meet.</p><p><strong>The requirements are pretty straightforward:</strong></p><ul><li>A high school diploma or GED</li><li>Passing a background check</li><li>Completing a multi-week training program that is specific per the airline you’re hired at</li><li>For bilingual roles, being fluent in English and the language you select on your application (French, Spanish, Korean, etc)</li></ul><p>Multi-week training programs are specific to the airline that you’re hired at. For instance, <a href="https://delta.avature.net/en_US/careers/JobDetail/1-IFS-Flight-Attendant-LOD-and-Non-LOD/29719?jobId=29719#/https://delta.avature.net/en_US/careers/JobDetail/1-IFS-Flight-Attendant-LOD-and-Non-LOD/29719?jobId=29719#/">Delta </a>states they have a 7-week training program while <a href="https://careers.united.com/us/en/flight-attendant-information#:~:text=Initial%20training%20is%20a%206,and%20potential%20life%2Dlong%20friends!">United</a> has a 6-and-a-half week program. These programs typically include training on emergency procedures, CPR, safety, security, and service, as well as important information about their aircraft fleet.</p><p>“The hiring process is long with a lot of competition,” Nick said. “I just applied to all the airlines when the applications were available and chose the best out of the ones that gave me an offer.”</p><h2>Mainline vs. Regional Airlines</h2><p><strong>What are the differences between mainline airlines and regional airlines?</strong> Mainline airlines operate large aircraft and employ their own crews, while regional airlines fly smaller planes on behalf of larger carriers. But both roles have the same priority: <strong>passenger safety</strong>.</p><p>“The only difference is the companies that they work for,” said Nick. He ended up choosing mainline for the competitive pay and benefits.</p><p>A few examples of mainline airlines include Delta, American, and United Airlines. For international mainline airlines, Air France and Lufthansa are two popular ones.</p><h2>How Much Do Flight Attendants Make? Salary &amp; Benefits</h2><p>Flight attendants are paid hourly, but it’s important to remember that most U.S.-based airlines only begin paying flight attendants once their aircraft door closes and the parking brake is released, until arrival at the destination.&nbsp;</p><p>They also receive per diem pay on top of flight hours during trips and additional categories like <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/holiday-jobs">holiday pay</a>, training pay, international pay, lead/purser pay, and more.</p><p>Nick shared that everyone works a different amount of hours and some fly high time (more hours for higher pay) while others fly low time (less hours for more time off). “Minimum schedules could range from 70 flight hours to up to 87 hours per month depending on staffing at your base and the season. You have the ability to fly less or more than the minimum but you have to put in the work for that.”</p><p><strong>Here’s what Nick earns as a flight attendant:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>2024 salary: </strong>$62,000</li><li><strong>2025 salary goal: </strong>$78,000 from 90 flight hours per month at 6-year pay</li><li><strong>Pay scale: </strong>$22 to $36 per hour for new hires, and up to $37 to $88 per hour at the top of the scale (varies by airline) and maxes out at 12 to 13 years. (American Airlines and Southwest are the highest paying right now, as of 2025).</li><li><strong>Per diem: </strong>$2 to $3.50 (or more) per hour depending on trip length (8 to 72+ hours). At this time, Delta and Alaskan Airlines are two airlines that pay for boarding.</li><li><strong>Benefits: </strong>Up to 9.3% 401k match, medical, dental, vision, parental and bonding leave, paid vacation and sick time.</li></ul><p>And of course, the biggest perk:<strong> free flights</strong>. Flight attendants (plus parents, kids, and a travel companion) can fly free or just cover their taxes. Some airlines also offer hotel and rental car discounts.</p><p><strong>Thanks to the role’s pay and amazing benefits, Nick was able to build a net worth of $100,000! </strong>Learn more about his wealth building journey on his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NicksDynasty">YouTube </a>below.</p>

HOW I Built a $100k Net Worth as a 30 Year Old Flight Attendant

<p><strong>Pro tip:</strong> If you’re planning to apply for any of these jobs, don’t forget to <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/negotiate-benefits">negotiate your benefits</a> and salary. Use our free guide to help! 👇</p>

<h2>Last-Minute Tips for New or Aspiring Flight Attendants</h2><p>Every day is a new experience as a flight attendant. “It’s a very dynamic job that keeps you on your toes,” Nick explained. He says one of the best parts of the job are layovers. “It’s like a mini vacation in the middle of work. I might work a trip to Philly just to eat a cheesesteak or to Paris just to pick up some butter.”</p><p>The croissants and travel perks don’t come without hard work, though. The schedule can be rough in the beginning. New flight attendants are often on call and may need to work weekends, holidays, and long stretches without much control over when or where they’ll fly next.</p><p>“As the years go on and you gain more seniority, you begin to hold a schedule of trips rather than being on call,” Nick said. “Flight Attendants bid for a schedule, so at some point you will get all the days off you want and work the trips you like.”</p><p>Flexibility grows with seniority, too. There’s a swap board where attendants can trade, pick up, or drop trips. If all your trips get picked up, you could go a whole month without flying in some cases.</p><p>However, Nick shared that the longer you stay, the better it gets. The flexibility and perks are especially important to him, allowing him to have the space to pursue other projects and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-side-hustles">side hustles</a> outside the airline.</p><p>To learn more about Nick, connect with him on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nicksdynasty">TikTok </a>or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NicksDynasty">YouTube</a> where he shares his adventures in travel, food, and money!&nbsp;</p><p><strong>This article is a part of our “Meet Your Neighbor” series</strong>, where we highlight real career paths and real paychecks from across the country.</p><p><strong>Read more from the series:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/freelance-ghostwriter">How This Freelance Ghostwriter Built a $200K Business</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/certified-anesthesiologist-assistant">How This Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Makes $300K a Year Without Going to Medical School</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/from-baseball-to-law-to-tech">From Professional Baseball Player to Software Tester</a></li></ul><p>If this guide helped you start or pivot to a career in the airline industry, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ <a href="mailto:hello@salarytransparentstreet.com">hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</a>.</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Check out our other <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/topic/quizzes">free career quizzes</a> in areas like trade jobs, tech, and side hustles .</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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How to Become a Flight Attendant With No Experience (Earn $70K+)

<p><strong>Got a job offer but think you’re getting lowballed?&nbsp;</strong></p><p>A lowball salary offer is when a company offers you a job with a salary that is lower than your market rate. This could be because of the company’s budget, misunderstanding your background and experience, or other reasons. But this is NOT the final offer.</p><p>Many hiring managers will actually offer a lower number in preparation for negotiations. According to research from <a href="https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide">Robert Half</a>, 44% of hiring managers say that people today are more likely to negotiate their pay. Make no mistake — they’re expecting a counter offer from you. They expect that number to increase as you <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/negotiate-salary-offer">negotiate your salary</a>.</p><p>This is actually one of the reasons <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/why-i-started-salary-transparent-street">Salary Transparent Street was started</a>: to fight for salary transparency and get people paid what they deserve.&nbsp;</p><p>Think of being lowballed as the first step to negotiating the salary you want. This will prompt you to find your market pay and prepare your response. The last thing we want you to do is accept a subpar salary without doing the market research to make sure you’re getting paid fairly.</p><p>Before you continue reading, first download our <strong>FREE </strong>Market Research Guide to find your market salary. You’ll need it later on in the article. 👇</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Key points:</strong></p><ul><li>If the offer is lower than your market rate, lower than your last salary, and has poor benefits, then you might be getting lowballed.</li><li>Never accept the initial salary offer without negotiating, especially when it’s lower than your market rate.</li><li>Use our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a> to search for thousands of publicly shared salaries from across the U.S. and apply your findings to your market research.</li></ul><h2>Key Sigs You’re Being Lowballed in a Job Offer</h2><p>Let’s say your last job paid you an $80,000 a year salary but the job offer you just received for a more senior position is for only $65,000. This is one example of receiving a lowball salary offer.</p><p><strong>In addition to this example, here are other signs that you might be getting jipped:&nbsp;</strong></p><ol><li><strong>The offer is below your market salary.</strong> If you don’t know your market salary, use our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to find a range according to your job title, skills, experience, and other factors. This will also be your secret weapon in salary negotiations.</li><li><strong>The job requires senior-level duties with entry-level pay. </strong>The offer is lower than your previous role, especially if increased responsibilities are required. You’re looking for a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-jobs-without-a-degree">higher-paying job</a>, so of course, it feels sketchy when you’re offered much less than you expected.</li><li><strong>There is little to no salary transparency. </strong>The recruiter or hiring manager avoids transparency or dodges questions about pay ranges and how the offer was determined around pay scales. Thanks to pay transparency laws, they may be required to be transparent upfront, depending on your state. For example, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington are among the 15 states that require salary ranges to be disclosed in job listings or in the introductory interview. See what your state’s <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/pay-transparency-laws">pay transparency laws are here</a>.</li><li><strong>The benefits are weak.</strong> Essential benefits include healthcare coverage, a fair amount of PTO, an employer-sponsored retirement plan, parental leave, disability insurance, and life insurance. But you can negotiate for whatever benefits you want (within reason). <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/negotiate-benefits">Negotiating your benefits</a> is just as important as negotiating your salary.</li><li><strong>There is a pressure to accept quickly.</strong> The employer gives you a limited time frame or requires you to accept immediately without giving you time to compare your options or negotiate.</li></ol>

<h2>What to Do If You’ve Been Lowballed</h2><p>Take your market rate and start putting together your counteroffer. Be sure to also ask about the total compensation package, including the benefits included, so you have all the details before you respond.</p><p>When crafting your response, start with the high end of your market salary range. Some negotiations may include several back-and-forths, so it’s possible they could try to counter. You want to ask for a higher salary than the one you want, so you have room for further negotiation.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We interviewed a financial planning and analysis professional in the video below who did this for their current job that pays $115,000 a year ($130,000 after bonuses).</strong></p>

Keep watching to hear the salary negotiation advice that helped him make more! #salarynegotiation

<h2>How do you politely say the salary is too low?</h2><p>Don’t immediately respond by saying, “the salary is too low." You don’t want to appear ungrateful and rude. Instead, thank them for the offer and express your excitement for the role.</p><p>Tell them you need some time to think about it but give them the expected time frame, whether that’s 24 hours or a few days. During this time, put together your script and gather any necessary market data that you might need to present.</p><p>Example: “Thank you so much for offering me the position! I’d love a little time to review everything carefully. Would it be alright if I got back to you with my response tomorrow?”</p><p><strong>Pro tip:</strong> Use our list of <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/salary-negotiation-scripts">salary negotiation scripts</a> for more ways to politely respond to their offer.</p><h2>Example for How to Respond to a Lowball Job Offer</h2><p>When you get back to the hiring manager, use a simple script like the sample below. Feel free to personalize it to your voice and situation so it sounds more natural.&nbsp;</p><p>“Thank you so much for the offer! I really enjoyed meeting you and the team, and I’m excited about the chance to contribute here. Before I can accept, I’d like to revisit the salary since it’s lower than the competitive market rate for this role. Based on my experience and skills, I’d be ready to accept the role at [$X], along with [insert any benefits you want to negotiate].”</p><h2>More Salary Negotiation Tips</h2><p>Salary offers and discussions can be confusing and a lowball offer can sometimes seem like an insult. But trust me, if you approach the negotiation more as a partnership, those conversations will get easier.&nbsp;</p><p>The hiring manager wants to come to an agreement with you. They’re the ones who chose you over everyone else they interviewed, so of course they want to do what they can to bring you on. They’re just bracing themselves for the impact. 😉</p><p><strong>Author note: </strong>I’m Daniella Flores, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET Money Expert Review Board</a>, and career researcher that’s appeared in TIME, CNBC, and Investopedia (among many others). I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land your dream job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ <a href="mailto:hello@salarytransparentstreet.com">hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</a></p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Looking for a job? Start your job search on our salary transparent <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/jobs">job board</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Don’t know what you want to do? Take any of our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/topic/quizzes">career quizzes</a>!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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What Are The Signs You're Being Lowballed in a Job Offer?

<p><i>Heads up: This article may include affiliate links or sponsored content from brands we trust. Using them doesn’t cost you anything and helps support our mission.</i></p><p>Making a decent living as a writer is more realistic than you think. There’s no degree or corporate experience required. All that’s needed is the willingness to learn and put yourself out there.</p><p><strong>Alice Lemee went from making $15 an hour as a music intern to making $200K as a freelance ghostwriter, all self-taught! </strong>👻 For those who aren’t familiar with ghostwriting, it’s when a writer creates content under someone else’s name or brand. It’s a popular in-demand service for folks like CEOs, online creators, celebrities, and other professionals that need writing done for them.</p><p>Starting with a love of journaling at age six, Alice didn’t initially think writing could be a viable career. But discovering Medium in 2020 opened her eyes to the world of professional freelancing.&nbsp;</p><p>Now she shares her expertise online through <a href="https://internetly.substack.com/">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicelemee/">LinkedIn</a>, and her content <a href="http://alicelemee.com">coaching services</a> while continuing to build a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-creative-jobs">lucrative creative career</a> on her own terms.&nbsp;</p>

"I've Made Over $200K as a Ghost Writer" 👻 Interview with Alice Lemee | Two Cents Podcast

<h2>From Music Intern to Freelance Ghostwriter</h2><p>2020 was a year full of career pivots for many, including Alice. While she loved working for a record label, she craved remote freedom and creative control. Corporate writing jobs weren’t taking her seriously and weeks of rejection left her frustrated.</p><p>“Fine. If no one will teach me, I’ll teach myself,” she recalled. Alice invested $1,500 per month in a freelance writing coach, posted blogs on <a href="https://medium.com/">Medium</a>, and shared insights on Twitter. “Within three months I had secured 2-3 clients and was earning <strong>$5,000 a month.</strong>”</p><p><strong>Pro tip:</strong> Download our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-market-research-guide">FREE Market Research Guide</a> to help determine how much to charge as a new writer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What Is Freelance Writing Really Like Compared to a 9-to-5?</h2><p>While 9-to-5 jobs come with many challenges, so does working for yourself as a freelancer. A huge part of freelance writing is building your personal brand to attract new clients and expand your <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-side-hustles">income streams</a>. There’s a constant stream of posts to write and content to create.</p><p>“The work is never over. I almost envy those who have an office. Once they leave, their job is done. I am constantly in work mode,” Alice said. “That said, my situation is still great. I work about 25-40 hours a week and can take days off last minute if I need to.”</p><p><strong>We recommend these free courses and guides for beginner freelance writers:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/bO0z6M" rel="sponsored">Building Your Freelancing Career</a></li><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/Wy0rQZ" rel="sponsored">The Strategy of Content Marketing</a></li><li>Our FREE <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-start-a-creative-career">Creative Career Guide</a></li></ul><h2>How to Land Your First Clients and Turn Them Into Retainers</h2><p>Alice found her first clients through cold emailing. Cold emailing is when you reach out to potential clients and send them a pitch that shows how your writing can solve a problem for them.</p><p>She didn’t just email them to ask for work, though. She analyzed their content strategy and provided thoughtful suggestions for improvements, such as article title ideas that would drive more revenue to their products.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>She emphasizes the “freelancer trifecta” for client retention: producing stellar work, being easy to work with, and staying reliable. </strong>“If you want a retainer? Hit on all three,” she said. “Be pleasant. Over-communicate. When you say you’ll deliver the draft on Friday, deliver it on Thursday. Clients will never want to let you go.”</p><h2>What Are the Hidden Costs of Freelancing (Taxes, Healthcare, Time)?</h2><p>The first year of freelancing is the hardest and the most expensive. You’re building your reputation from scratch and need to gain as much experience as possible, even if that means taking every project you can get, no matter the pay. Then there’s taxes and healthcare costs that add up.</p><p>“Taxes rocked me,” Alice said in regards to her <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee">self-employment taxes</a>. Taxes and healthcare are different for freelancers versus W-2 employees. Freelancers have a 15.3% self-employment tax to pay, which consists of Social Security and Medicare taxes. W-2 employees also pay this tax, but only half at 7.65% because their employer pays the other half.&nbsp;</p><p>Healthcare coverage costs could vary depending on your health needs. Alice found coverage on the <a href="https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/">New York State of Health Marketplace</a> for $400 a month.&nbsp;</p><p>“I am very lucky in the sense that I am young, healthy, ‘knocks wood’, and do not rely on any medication. That means I can get by with a pretty basic healthcare plan.”</p><p>To find coverage available in your state, check the <a href="http://heatlhcare.gov">Heatlhcare.gov</a> website or <strong>browse our </strong><a href="https://secure.money.com/pr/idcfc660c6f9"><strong>recommended partners</strong></a><strong> below for affordable plan options.</strong></p>

<h2>How Freelance Writers Can Diversify Their Income Streams</h2><p>Alice has two types of income streams. She provides her ghostwriting services for one and coaching for the other. Her ghostwriting services consist of writing newsletters, social media posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, and the occasional copywriting audits and case studies.</p><p>For her second income stream, she coaches professionals on how to increase their “creator gravity" (being magnetic online) through a clear, differentiated purpose, high-quality content, and aligned energy.”</p><p>She recommends that if you want to take on new projects, to start with the clients you already have. “The fact that you’re already familiar with their team and business model is an advantage,” she said, “and you’d save them from spending the time trying to hire someone new.”</p><h2>Will AI Replace Freelance Writers? Alice’s Take on AI</h2><p>Alice says that “AI will never drive the writer fully into extinction.”&nbsp;</p><p>And we agree - the majority of people don’t want to read books written by AI or follow AI creators online. They want to connect with real people, not code that has no human experience.</p><p>Alice says that for ghostwriters to stand out and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/will-ai-take-my-job">survive AI</a>, they’ll have to have a unique voice, know how to use personal stories, and be willing to do what AI can’t. They also need to have a few AI skills of their own.&nbsp;</p><p>“AI is useful when I need to get up to speed with a topic I’m unfamiliar with. I read through a lot of scientific journals for a client in the medical field, but the medical jargon can be a doozy,” she said. “ChatGPT helps me simplify complicated topics. I also like to ask it if it can find me obscure research or fun facts about a topic, which I can use in an attention-grabbing introduction.”</p><p><strong>Recommended courses to learn AI skills:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/yqogny">Google AI Essentials</a></li><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/9L3MZ4">Generative AI for Digital Marketing</a></li><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/zxke9G">AI for Business: Branding, Creative Content, and Marketing Specialization</a></li></ul><h2>Practical Tips for Newbies</h2><p>Alice’s top tips for new freelance writers? Don’t wait for someone to hire you first. She suggests launching something like a Substack or creating content on LinkedIn to showcase your writing skills (similar to how she first showcased her writing on Medium).</p><p>When you start pitching your services to clients, focus on what you can do for them to help them grow rather than talking about where you’ve been. Also, don’t try to offer too many services. This can confuse clients and derail the conversation.</p><p>“Instead of being a ‘chef,’ where you have a menu with 56 different options, be a doctor,” she said. “Listen to their problem and then “diagnose” them a solution (e.g. 2-3 services where you’re a pro).”</p><p>Even with the rise of AI, there’s a ton of opportunity for new freelance writers. As long as you’re focused on the client’s needs and how you can stand out, you’re golden.</p><p>To learn more about Alice and her work, connect with her on <a href="https://internetly.substack.com/">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicelemee/">LinkedIn</a>, or her <a href="http://alicelemee.com">website</a>.</p><p><strong>This article is a part of our “Meet Your Neighbor” series</strong>, where we highlight real career paths and real paychecks from across the country.</p><p><strong>Read more from the series:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/from-baseball-to-law-to-tech">From Professional Baseball Player to Software Tester</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/certified-anesthesiologist-assistant">How This Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Makes $300K a Year Without Going to Medical School</a></li></ul><p>If this helps you land a higher-paying job or a successful career pivot, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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Green mobile cover image with ghost writing and title text overlay that says "from music intern to 6-figure ghostwriter"

How This Freelance Ghostwriter Built a $200K Business 

<p><i>Heads up:<strong> </strong>This article may include affiliate links or sponsored content from brands and products we trust or actually use ourselves. Using them doesn’t cost you a thing, but it helps support our mission.&nbsp;</i></p><p>Will AI take my job? I hope not, and it probably won’t, <strong>but it’s definitely changing it.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>I’m a writer, a position that’s high on the AI-chopping block, according to new research from <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.07935">Microsoft</a>. This study also cites other roles, such as historians, mathematicians, proofreaders, and sales reps, among the top 40 jobs to be impacted by <a href="https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/generative-ai">generative AI</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>AI can be a great tool to help improve our work. AI helps me research topics and strategies, analyze data, and audit my finished pieces to meet standards. However, it isn’t necessarily true that it can completely replace us (or entire teams).</p>

<p><strong>Key points:</strong></p><ul><li>AI probably won’t take your job, but it’s changing it in one way or another.</li><li>AI is most likely to replace jobs that are repetitive or rules-based.</li><li>Jobs that can't be replaced by AI are those that require human empathy, creativity, or contextual judgement.</li><li>AI will create new jobs like AI auditors and AI integrators, and grow other jobs like cybersecurity specialists.</li><li>Browse thousands of publicly shared salaries in our <a href="http://salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a> to see how much new AI jobs are paying.</li><li>Search our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Salary Transparent Job Board</a> for AI roles and to see how different job requirements are changing with the rise of AI.</li></ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Why AI Won’t Take My Job (or Yours)</h2><p>As a writer, my work heavily draws from my<strong> unique human perspective</strong> and how I think. As much as many big companies want to argue that AI can replace that work, it really can’t. It can try, but it will never have the lived experience of a human that makes a great writer.&nbsp;</p><p>Same goes for content creators like the founder of Salary Transparent Street, <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/why-i-started-salary-transparent-street">Hannah Williams</a>. Would you be following her content if it was AI and not an actual human that you can connect with? I don’t think so.</p><p>It’s a little different for <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-tech-jobs">tech jobs</a>. While they require creativity to address business problems, their work operates at an enterprise scale. AI doesn’t really get complex concepts and needs within an organization, like how to support a customized legacy system that is specific to one company (and has slim to no documentation).&nbsp;</p><p>I recently spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/agrawalabhishekaa/">Abhishek Agrawal</a>, a senior engineering leader at Amazon, who says that while AI won’t take most jobs, “it will fundamentally transform how many are performed.”</p><p>“Historically, technological shifts have displaced some tasks while creating entirely new industries,” Agrawal said. “For example, in software development, AI-assisted coding tools are increasing productivity but not replacing engineers. Instead, they allow developers to spend less time on repetitive debugging and more on designing complex systems.”</p><h2>The AI Hype Bubble</h2><p>There’s something that’s often overlooked when we see tech company after tech company replacing staff with AI. AI isn’t at the level yet to do the things they want it to do. Sure, they want to cut costs and boost efficiency, but they may end up sacrificing quality while doing so. There is still a significant amount of human oversight required. Many AI tools are clunky with several security and legal issues.&nbsp;</p><p>For starters, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT don’t excel at fact checking and often make things up. So much so that tech bros created a term for it: <strong>“hallucination”.</strong> OpenAI even <a href="https://futurism.com/openai-admits-gpt45-hallucinates">admitted</a> that their model hallucinates more than a third of the time. If that’s something you use for your job, make sure you do the extra leg work on your part to fact check what LLMs are telling you.</p><p>We’re a far way off from artificial general intelligence (AGI) that would make it possible for AI to handle more complex tasks with less human oversight. This is still a hypothetical concept. No existing system comes close to matching the unique capabilities of a living mind. Sure, it can process at a speed our minds can't, it can be trained on millions of pieces of data that a human may have trouble retaining , but it isn't capable of forming original thought (and often falls short of recognizing nuance).</p><p>What we have now is narrow AI. Narrow AI is created for specific tasks but the AI doesn’t “think”. AGI is when the AI can understand and learn any task a human can. It's theorized that it would have human-level cognitive abilities, but we’re just not there yet. <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a64929206/singularity-six-months/">AI researchers</a> expect it to be around 2040 until we achieve AGI.&nbsp;</p><h2>AI Will Most Likely Change Your Job Instead</h2><p>AI is expected to change 60% of current jobs, according to a report from the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/02/artificial-intelligence-ai-jobs-future/">World Economic Forum</a>. Jobs are already changing with many employees utilizing AI tools in their roles, such as ChatGPT for various uses, Microsoft and GitHub Copilot for coding and enterprise-level work, and Tableau AI for data and analytics.&nbsp;</p><p>Automation is becoming a foundational part of the workplace with 40% of U.S. employees saying they’ve used AI a few times a year or more, according to <a href="https://www.gallup.com/workplace/691643/work-nearly-doubled-two-years.aspx">Gallup research</a>. <strong>The best thing you can do for your job right now is to learn how to best incorporate AI in your own career and learn as much about AI as you can.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>To start learning AI skills, here are a few courses we recommend:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/yqogny" rel="sponsored">Google’s AI Essentials</a></li><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/6y56zK" rel="sponsored">Vanderbilt’s Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT</a></li><li><a href="https://imp.i384100.net/vPqKmd" rel="sponsored">IBM AI Developer Professional Certificate</a></li></ul><p>Building AI agents that could potentially help you with your work is a <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/high-income-skills">skill growing in demand</a>. This isn’t something that’s overly complicated, it’s seen as valuable within the company, and might even impress your manager. It’s your way of showing them that you know your field is changing and you’re staying on top of emerging technologies to stay ahead of the game. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMhIRdFu6aY/?igsh=Z240ajkyank4dWE1">This </a>is a good (and quick) tutorial to follow for building your first AI agent.</p><p>Many agents use OpenAI, so remember the earlier statement that OpenAI admitted to its tendency to hallucinate information over a third of the time. OpenAI isn’t the only one that does this. Always do your due diligence, fact check, and quality check whatever AI is doing for you. <strong>Your work is still your responsibility, even if an AI agent helped you out.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Pro tip:</strong> AI can also be used to increase your salary as you grow your career. Use AI to help <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/negotiate-salary-offer">negotiate salary in a job offer</a>, create <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/salary-negotiation-scripts">salary negotiation scripts</a>, and <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-ask-for-a-raise">ask for a raise</a>. But first – download our <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64c03066207ff6fa282b6bac?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>.</p>

<h2>What New Jobs Will AI Create?</h2><p>AI is expected to create millions of brand new jobs within the next few years, according to the <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/jobs-lost-jobs-gained-what-the-future-of-work-will-mean-for-jobs-skills-and-wages">McKinsey Global Institute</a> and the World Economic Forum’s <a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/">Future of Jobs Report 2025</a>. Among these are a few we’re already starting to see, such as AI trainers and prompt engineers.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/magazine/ai-new-jobs.html">The New York Times</a> put together a list of 22 new jobs AI could give us based on three areas where humans are necessary:<strong> trust, integration, and taste. </strong>Their list mentions roles like AI auditors who would investigate AI and document it for various purposes, AI integrators who find the best ways to use AI in a company and implement it, and AI ethicists who build defensible logic used to support decisions made by AI.</p><p>This mirrors Agrawal’s prediction that AI “creates demand for new roles in AI ethics and model governance.”</p><p>The <strong>taste </strong>category of new jobs are mainly made up of <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-creative-jobs">creative jobs</a>. These include article designers who design an article with the help of AI to put it together, and world designers that will design entire worlds for everything from marketing campaigns to video games.</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresafuller/">Teresa Fuller</a>, an AI and brand marketing consultant, says her job is already morphing into one of these new jobs. She said she can “use AI to scale content across Shopify, Klaviyo, YouTube, and Pinterest, analyze customer insights with Ground.ai, and optimize ads on Meta and Google.”</p><p>“That frees me up to focus on what AI can’t do: creative direction, building partnerships, and setting strategy. Instead of replacing me, AI makes me faster, sharper, and more effective.”</p><p><strong>Other possible new roles are:</strong></p><ul><li>Legal guarantors</li><li>Consistency coordinators</li><li>Escalation officers</li><li>Drug-compliance optimizers</li><li>Human resources designers</li><li>Civil designers</li></ul><h2>What Jobs Will AI Most Likely Replace?</h2><p>As discussed in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAWEuT0SJFk">our podcast episode</a>, AI will most likely replace jobs that are repetitive and rules-based. These are positions like data entry roles, customer service reps, telemarketers, proofreaders, and administrative assistants.&nbsp;</p><p>Retail workers and cashiers are also identified as highly-replaceable, but this still requires some human oversight. I’ve yet to go through a self checkout where there wasn’t a person needing help every 5 minutes.</p><p>Manufacturing and assembly line jobs are other roles likely to be replaced by AI. This is something UPS, Puma, and Ryobi are already doing with <a href="https://picklerobot.com/">Pickle Robot</a>, a physical AI for supply chain management.</p><h2>Jobs Safe From AI</h2><p>Agrawal thinks jobs that are the safest from AI are the ones that <strong>require our humanity</strong>. “AI struggles in areas requiring deep human empathy, creativity rooted in lived experience, and contextual judgement.”</p><p>“For instance, AI can recommend treatments in <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-healthcare-jobs">healthcare</a>, but the trust and reassurance a doctor provides to a patient is irreplaceable.”</p><p><strong>Other AI-safe jobs we’ve found from recent interviews include:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-trade-jobs">Trade jobs</a> like electricians and plumbers</li><li>EMTs</li><li>Nurse practitioners</li><li>Physical therapists</li><li>Athletic trainers</li><li>Choreographers</li><li>Chemical engineers.&nbsp;</li></ul><p><strong>We interviewed a chemical engineer making $300,000 a year!</strong></p>

These are the safest jobs from AI automation, ranked from lowest to highest pay! #paytransparency

<p>Jobs that are not only safe from AI, but will also grow because of it, include cybersecurity specialists and compliance officers. This is because of the increased security and legal needs that comes with AI.</p><h2>The Future of AI and How to Stand Out in The Job Market</h2><p>The secret to standing out in a job market saturated with AI hype is to NOT sell yourself short. Don’t think of your title as being all that your job is. For example, I’m not “just” a writer. I’m a web content writer, copywriter, technical writer, content manager, marketer, and consultant. If I think of new jobs AI may create, maybe I’m an “article designer” or even a “world designer” now.</p><p>Think of ways to stand out in your career, what to offer that AI can’t, and what you can do with AI that others in your field aren’t doing. Stay on top of new AI and robotic technology and learn everything you can.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>The number one thing you have that AI doesn’t? You’re human.</strong> Show your management and company the value of keeping humans, especially humans that know how to use AI effectively.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Learn more about different jobs and how to break in:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">How to Break Into Tech and IT (With Tips From Real Tech Workers)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-get-into-a-trade">How to Get Into a Trade (With Advice From Real Trade Workers)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/healthcare-careers-guide">Healthcare Careers: The Ultimate Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-start-a-creative-career">How to Start a Creative Career (or Pivot to One) in 2025</a></li></ul><p>Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a former software engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers with bylines in <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET</a>, CNBC, Buzzfeed, and more. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Street resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Looking for a job? Start your job search on our salary transparent <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/jobs">job board</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/p/underpaid-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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Green mobile cover image with a human and robot hand synchronizing and title text overlay that says "Will AI Take My Job?

Will AI Take My Job?

<p><i>Heads up: This article may include affiliate links or sponsored content from brands and products we trust or actually use ourselves. Using them doesn’t cost you a thing, but it helps support our mission.&nbsp;</i></p><p>So many of us have been told the lie that says you can’t make money in the arts. That couldn’t be more wrong. Starting a creative career can actually be quite lucrative and emotionally rewarding.&nbsp;</p><p>According to our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database?query=&amp;page=1&amp;sortByField=calculated_annual_salary&amp;sortOrder=-1&amp;filters=industry%3DCreative%2C+Animation%2C+Design">Salary Database</a> of thousands of publicly shared salaries, <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-creative-jobs">top creative roles</a> like creative directors, studio photographers, illustrators, product designers, and architects are<strong> making over $200,000 a year.</strong>&nbsp;</p><p><i><strong>We found an architect making $1M in our database!</strong></i></p><p>Driven by technological advancement, many salaries could also increase for certain roles due to fast-growing skills like design and user experience (UX), according to the<a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/"> Future of Jobs Report 2025</a> by the World Economic Forum.</p><p>Even with AI changing some aspects of the industry, there is still a ton of opportunity for newbies entering the field. The hype around AI misses the fact that AI will never have a human perspective. <strong>Art and creativity require</strong> <strong>human experience, something AI will never live or feel.</strong> Just remember that when everyone else is screaming that <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/will-ai-take-my-job">AI might take their jobs</a>.</p><p><strong>In this career guide, we’ll be breaking down different creative careers, including what they do, skills required, and where to start with online courses or art school programs.</strong> You’ll also learn the different salary expectations for each role using salary data recorded from real creative industry professionals in our Salary Database, our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet">interviews</a>, and other data sources like <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Community/profile/hannah-williams-ygsa">Glassdoor</a> and the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</a>.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2>What is a Creative Career?</h2><p>A creative career is any profession that requires expertise in the arts, media, design, or crafting areas. Jobs in the creative field emphasize creativity as a core value and not just a side skill. The value you bring to your role lies in your ideas, style, and taste.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>To get a sneak peak into the different creative careers available, check out these recent video interviews we did with fellow creatives!</strong></p>

🎨 How much do creative jobs pay? #salarytransparentstreet #paytransparency #howmuchdoyoumake

<h2>How to Choose Your Creative Career Path</h2><p>As a creative person, you probably have several creative strengths and artistic paths you want to explore. To find the best fit, take into account your talents, lifestyle goals, and earning potential.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Start with these three questions:</strong></p><ul><li>What is something that you <i>want to </i>do for 40 hours a week to express your unique talents and still make a comfortable living?</li><li>What are your lifestyle goals?</li><li>How much money do you want to make?</li></ul><p>From there, experiment with a few ideas before you commit. Look up introduction-type <a href="https://imp.i384100.net/aOQN9b" rel="sponsored">online courses</a> for fields you’re interested in and challenge yourself to try a side project or two. While you’re learning about different roles, also research their salaries and growth potential.</p><p>Also look for experts on LinkedIn that are already doing what you want to do. Follow them and get more of a feel for different roles and the current state of the industry. I also love this route because it shows you all of the different ways creative people structure their careers. Some work at a company or agency, others have their own businesses, and many do a combination of the two. There is no limit to what you can do.</p><p><strong>Pro tip: </strong>Use our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/job-board">Salary Transparent Job Board</a> as a tool to learn more about different roles and help make your decision. Reading about what’s required in current jobs hiring will give you a better understanding of what to expect and prepare for as you navigate your own career.</p>

<h2>Breaking Down The Different Areas of The Creative Industry (&amp; The Roles In Them)</h2><p><strong>The creative industry is a broad sector with two main types of roles: those that help to produce a creative product and those who help support it.</strong> For example, a fashion designer helps create a piece of clothing or accessory while the marketing and branding teams at that same company work to market and drive the success of the finished product.&nbsp;</p>

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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<p>&nbsp;</p><p>There are also many sub-areas of the industry, such as digital media and audio that can also crossover into <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">the tech world</a>, and beauty that consists of independent creative <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/highest-paying-trade-jobs">trade jobs</a> like nail and makeup artists.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2>More Career Resources</h2><p>If you leave this career guide with anything, I hope it’s this: The biggest factors that will help you start your creative career more than anything else are 1) self-starting with artistic experimentation and learning opportunities, 2) building a strong portfolio, and 3) talking to other people in the industry.&nbsp;</p><p>People are the most overlooked resource we have in our career. They’re the ones that may vouch for you behind closed doors and be there to confide in when times get rough. Many will also share their story about how they got to where they are and can have some hidden gems for tips to break into the industry.&nbsp;</p><p>Extrovert or introvert, do your best to put yourself out there and start connecting with other creatives. If you start anywhere, start there.</p><p><strong>If you want to learn more about other careers, check out our other recent career guides:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-get-into-a-trade">How to Get Into a Trade</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/how-to-break-into-tech">How to Break Into Tech</a></li><li><a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/healthcare-careers-guide">Healthcare Career Guide</a></li></ul><p>Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, and a current member of the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/financial-review-board/">CNET Money Expert Review Board</a>. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub">Salary Transparent Street blog</a> (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellamarquez/">Linkedin</a>. Chat soon!</p><p>If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com</p><p><strong>For more Salary Transparent Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Want to join the movement? Explore thousands of individually reported salaries nationwide across all industries in our <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/salary-database">Salary Database</a>!</li><li>Looking for a job? Start your job search on our salary transparent <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/jobs">job board</a>!</li><li>Do you know if you're being underpaid? <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/are-you-underpaid-free-quiz">Take our free quiz</a> to find out!</li><li>Need help determining your market rate? Download our free <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/626ccc8e1e8046b220253e47">Market Research Guide</a> to learn what you should be making.</li><li>Need help negotiating your salary? Download our free <a href="https://www.salarytransparentstreet.com/resource-hub/free-salary-negotiation-guide">Salary Negotiation Guide</a>!</li><li>Follow us on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@salarytransparentstreet">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/salarytransparentstreet/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salarytransparentstreet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/salarytransparentstreet">YouTube </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/salarytransparentstreet/">LinkedIn </a>for daily pay transparency interviews and career news you can use!</li><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://salarytransparentstreet.beehiiv.com/subscribe">weekly newsletter</a> for news updates, professional deep dives, learning opportunities, and more!</li></ul>

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