We all want to make a good living and have a rewarding career. But the reality is that many jobs require long hours, high stress, and little to no flexibility. If you want to get ahead in your career while still having time for your family, friends, and interests outside of work, you may be wondering how to do it.
It’s not impossible—and it’s not even that difficult! You just need to know where to look.
The first step is finding a job that pays well but doesn’t require long hours or stressful conditions. This can be difficult if you’re looking for something traditional like a full-time position in an office environment, but there are other options out there for people who want more flexibility and better pay than what most traditional jobs offer.
One option is becoming a freelancer—working as an independent contractor so that you have more control over your schedule and can switch projects when needed without having to go through lengthy hiring processes or find new clients each time you want to work on something new (or stop working). Freelancing also allows you to pick up extra gigs whenever possible without needing prior approval from anyone else in order to do so—so if someone needs help with their project at
Fast Careers With High Pay
- Dental Hygienist
Cleaning teeth, inspecting mouths for signs of disease, and educating patients about proper oral care are the primary duties for people with this career. For quick degrees that pay well, this is a popular option.
Median pay: $77,090
Top pay: $104,420 or more
Job growth: 6 percent
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
These healthcare technicians use special ultrasound technology to capture images that help doctors correctly diagnose and treat their patients.
Median pay: $75,920
Top pay: $105,340 or more
Job growth: 17 percent
- Registered Nurse
With just an associate degree, you can enter the world of providing and coordinating essential care for patients in places like hospitals, nursing facilities, and other healthcare settings.
Median pay: $75,330
Top pay: $116,230 or more
Job growth: 7 percent
- Web Developer/Digital Interface Designer
Building attractive and functional websites requires plenty of technical skill but not necessarily much schooling, especially if you already enjoy teaching yourself new tricks. Depending on how motivated you are, this could be one of the quickest careers you can get into in tech.
Median pay: $77,200
Top pay: $146,430 or more
Job growth: 8 percent
- Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists help patients breathe effectively, whether they are helping with rehabilitation in a private clinic or placing someone on a ventilator to save their life. COVID-19 has dramatically increased the need for RTs, both on the front lines in hospitals and in treating lingering or lasting lung damage in those affected by the virus. This means the demand for RTs is high and expected to stay high for some time.
Median pay: $62,810
Top pay: $89,170 or more
Job growth: 19 percent (nearly five times the average for all occupations)
- Cardiovascular Technologist/Technician
These specialists perform tests, take ultrasound images, or provide assistance during surgery for heart-related conditions.
Median pay: $59,100
Top pay: $96,790 or more
Job growth: 5 percent
- Electrician
A little vocational schooling and a short apprenticeship are usually enough to enter this trade that lets you wire buildings for electrical power and communications.
Median pay: $56,900
Top pay: $98,720 or more
Job growth: 8 percent
- Plumber/Pipefitter/Steamfitter
With a short amount of formal trade school or apprenticeship training, you can specialize in installing and repairing pipes and related equipment.
Median pay: $56,330
Top pay: $98,990 or more
Job growth: 4 percent
- Commercial Diver
This tradesperson works underwater in special scuba gear to help build, repair, or remove large structures or equipment. For someone who already loves diving (or the concept of it), training to do it professionally can be one of the most exciting options among other programs in the skilled trades.
Median pay: $54,800
Top pay: $111,130 or more
Job growth: 5 percent
- Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Supporting lawyers by taking care of responsibilities like legal research, administrative tasks, or document drafting is what these well-paid professionals are trained for.
Median pay: $52,920
Top pay: $85,160 or more
Job growth: 11 percent
- HVAC Technician
These tradespeople install, maintain, and repair the systems that heat and cool our homes, businesses, and other buildings.
Median pay: $50,590
Top pay: $80,820 or more
Job growth: 4 percent
- Surgical Technologist
Preparing operating rooms, organizing surgical equipment, and assisting surgeons during operations are a few of the main roles for this kind of healthcare technician.
Median pay: $49,710
Top pay: $73,110 or more
Job growth: 7 percent
- Construction Equipment Operator
This skilled trade involves controlling big construction machinery used for building roads or major structures.
Median pay: $49,770
Top pay: $87,220 or more
Job growth: 4 percent
- Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse
No degree is required to get into this level of nursing, which lets you work alongside doctors and other health professionals after a quick vocational education.
Median pay: $48,820
Top pay: $65,520 or more
Job growth: 9 percent
- Clinical Laboratory Technician
People in this occupation (also known as medical laboratory technicians) collect fluid and tissue samples from medical patients and perform basic diagnostic tests using special lab equipment.
Median pay: $54,180
Top pay: $83,700 or more
Job growth: 7 percent
Other High-Paying Jobs With Little Schooling Required
Highest Paying Jobs Without a DegreeHere are some more of the highest-paying jobs with the least amount of schooling needed, all of which are expected to have some job growth (compared to the previously listed jobs, which are anticipated to grow at the same rate or faster than the national average). And these professions can often be started without a degree or with just a short amount of formal training or certification preparation.
- Software Developer
Although many developers have bachelor’s degrees, other successful people in this field begin their careers with under two years of formal training.
Median pay: $110,140
Top pay: $170,100 or more
- Commercial Pilot (Non-Airline)
You don’t need a college degree to fly charters or to get paid for jobs like aerial photography or firefighting missions. But you do need certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. You can prepare for your certification at an aviation school that offers short pilot training.
Median pay: $93,300
Top pay: $200,920 or more
- Network Systems Administrator
Looking after the day-to-day needs of an organization’s data communications systems is what this technology-based vocation is all about.
Median pay: $84,810
Top pay: $134,970 or more
- Special Effects Artist or Animator
With the success of the video game industry and other entertainment like film and TV, the need for those with artistic talent and 2D or 3D computer animation skills is always present. If you thrive on using your creativity, this could top the list of easy jobs that pay well.
Median pay: $77,700
Top pay: $142,750 or more
- Electrical or Electronics Engineering Technician
Helping engineers develop and test equipment and devices related to things like computers, health monitoring, communications, or navigation is what this kind of specialist does.
Median pay: $67,550
Top pay: $99,810 or more
Fast Careers With High Pay
Fast Careers With High Pay
