Five Jobs with Surprisingly High Salaries

Yahoo has a list of five jobs with surprisingly high salaries. Their list includes:

• Flight Attendants -- Top 10% earn $102,660 a year; Average annual salary: $62,880
• Farm, Ranch and Other Agricultural Managers -- Top 10% earn $103,660 a year; Average annual salary: $61,030
• Gaming Managers -- Top 10% earn $106,220 a year; Average annual salary: $69,600
• Air Traffic Controllers -- Top 10% earn $141,860; Average annual salary: $107,780
• Database Administrator -- Top 10% earn $106,860 a year; Average annual salary: $70,260

For the full list, click this link.

Ok, this is somewhat of a bogus list. After all, the top 10% is almost any profession is going to have a salary level much higher than what the average worker has. That said, some of these certainly are interesting. For instance, I'm surprised at how much even average flight attendants and air traffic controllers make. And I would have thought that gaming managers would make way more than $100k in the top 10%. Database administrator is the only one that looks as I would have expected it.

For some thoughts on how to make the most of your career/job/income, check out these links:

• How to Be Successful at Your Job

• Five Keys to Increasing Your Pay

• How to Hold on to Your Job

Comments

[Jim]

I'm not surprised about air traffic controllers. Its an extremely high responsibility and high stress job. And you have to be pretty highly competent to do it.

I'm surprised by how much flight attendants make.

Jim

[Jim]

I'm not surprised about air traffic controllers. Its an extremely high responsibility and high stress job. And you have to be pretty highly competent to do it.

I'm surprised by how much flight attendants make.

Jim

[Matt]

I'm not sure why the one about database administrators would make a list of surprisingly high salaries, unless the person making the list had no idea what the qualifications or responsibilities of a DBA are.

The one about air traffic controllers is definitely true (possibly even understated) and is a travesty. It's a fleecing of the taxpayers. NATCA lobbies against long overdue improvements in technology as a make-work strategy for their grossly overpaid members. Reagan had the right idea when he fired the controllers who were striking. Someone needs to stand up to them again.

[Ed]

My Sister is a flight attendant and has been for about 12 years.... What I will say is that very very very few flight attendants make that kind of money. The only ones that do are the ones that they refer to as teradactals.... cause they have been around for so long. A majority of them have had their pay cut in half over the last 10-20 years.

I will say that most do have a very good income though, as they tend to only work like 5 days on... and a week off.. or something like that. And gives them a lot of time to either build a side business... and/or have another job.

[Julia]

As an airplane passenger, I really would prefer those in charge of my safety in the air get treated well while at work, and that includes good benefits and compensation. I have the same opinion about fire, police, and medical workers.

You're right about top 10% of any profession having a high salary. However, those with high salaries really skew the average salary. It'd be more telling to know the median salary.

[mrm]

That DBA figure is very well earned..and is actually quite low for what I would have expected..and what I have seen.

[Farmwife]

ROTFL- Farm, Ranch and Other Agricultural Managers -- Top 10% earn $103,660 a year; Average annual salary: $61,030

Yeah, well, not so much in the "real" world. ;)

I suppose if you are counting income BEFORE expenses. Since most "Managers" are also the owners -- let me tell you, that income goes down dramatically. The few fellows I know who do manage for bigger farms -- they don't make that much either. They do generally have free housing though.

[Jim]

Also note that they are quoting the Average wages. The average is pulled up by the top wage earners. I think it generally makes more sense to look at Median wages to get an idea of the true middle.

The "Farm, Ranch and Other Agricultural Managers" is for people who manage a farm for someone else (probably a company or wealthy owner). It is not the same category as a Farmer or Rancher who owns or rents and operates their own farm or ranch land.

Farm, ranch managers:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119011.htm
Farmers & ranchers:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119012.htm

Jim

[Jim]

Also heres a detail on flight attendants:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos171.htm#earnings
"..beginning atτendants had median earnings of $15,849 a year in 2006."

So kinda looks like the higher wages are primarily through seniority and you would have to work years before you start making the better money.

Jim