Want to make a lot of money and enjoy a lot of time off?
June 4, 2012
The idea of a "cushy" job that requires little time and effort but pays well is a dream-come-true for some people. Realistically, most of us know that even the jobs that seem easy take some effort, even if it was years of hard work and dedication put forth in order to be able to sit back and reap the benefits later on.
24/7 Wall Street recently analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to find the jobs that pay the most but require the least amount of work.
Working an average of 21 hours each week and earning a median salary of $103,210 per year, aircraft pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers top the list, according to the website.
"Pilots work almost 50 percent fewer hours than the average America, but make the 21st highest median annual salary among the 819 positions listed on the BLS list of occupations," according to 247WallSt.com's Michael B. Sauter.
While college law professors work an average 40-hour work week during the school year, they enjoy summers off and a variety of other perks while still raking in a high median salary ($94,260). This profession ranks number two on the list, and was also named one of the best jobs in America in 2006 by Money Magazine and Salary.com.
Other professions that made 24/7 Wall Street's list include speech-language pathologists, psychologists, dental hygienists, librarians, school principals, occupational therapists, judges and magistrates.
Many of the jobs on the list may not require a lot of time spent working each week, month or year, however, they do require significant education and training.
The good news for anyone who is considering these careers or any others that require a college education is that there are many ways to make paying for school easier for parents. Financial aid for mothers, scholarships for mothers and college grants can help make pursuing a college degree financially realistic for many parents.
Regardless of your major, getting a college degree is expected to boost your earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011, individuals with a bachelor's degree made an average of $1,053 per week, compared to $768 per week for those with an associate degree, $719 per week for those with some college (but no degree) and $638 per week for those with a high school diploma.
In addition, recent research from the Pew Research Center reveals that over the course of a 40-year career, college graduates are expected to make about $650,000 more than those without a college degree.
Just FYI - those who want to stay away from a job that requires many years of schooling and training as well as a lot of hours spent on the job each week should steer clear of being a doctor. According to 24/7 Wall Street, "even though doctors are paid better than most, the salary comes with one of the heaviest schedules. Surgeons, for instance, work an average of 2,835 hours per year - the equivalent of five more months over the 2,006 hours the average American works."
