Karlene Meister

Do you earn a six-figure income? As it turns out, it's not just lawyers and doctors who carry home the hefty paychecks. According to annual surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 20-odd unexpected jobs garner a six-figure income, including that of human resources manager.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Data each spring and shares information on over 800 occupations. Within those occupations there are 20 in which the top 10% earn more than $100,000 a year. These include:

Makeup artists
Post-secondary home economics instructors
Writers and authors
Technical writers
Film editors
Transportation inspectors
Farmers and ranchers
Insurance sales agents
Human resources managers
Elevator installers
Loans officers
Post-secondary art and drama teachers
Multimedia artists and animators
Arbitrators and mediators
Captains and pilots of water vessels
Gaming managers
Broadcast news analysts
Education administrators for elementary and secondary school

On the flip side of the coin, we know that if you work at McDonalds as a cashier you are probably earning minimum wage. But some unexpected jobs earn a low salary of less than $50,000 a year, with the bottom 10% earning less than $30,000. These include:

Legislators
Computer support specialists
Radio and TV announcers
Reporters and correspondents
Firefighters
Embalmers
Models
Private detectives
Marriage therapists
Embalmers

Did you make the cut? Which of these jobs most surprised you when it comes to salary? I am most surprised by farmers and ranchers. I'd like to go live on a farm!

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