When looking for a new job, you have many options to consider, such as career path, industry, and salary, with wages and salaries most likely as the top factor. It’s commonly known that some occupations are more lucrative than others.

You may be surprised to learn about careers that you’re unfamiliar with that pay quite well. Some of them are in the fields of technology and medicine, but several are outside of those industries. If you or someone you know is in the market for a new job, these unique occupations come with competitive salaries. 

1. Recreational Therapist

Occupational and physical therapists are well-known occupations, but recreational therapists are less commonly known. All of these therapy professionals work with individuals with disabilities and those recovering from illness or injury.

Recreational therapists employ games, art, music, drama, aquatics, dancing, and field trips as part of their treatment plans. They also work to improve the mental well-being of their patients. The median annual salary for this occupation is $57,120. 

2. Wind Turbine Technician

Wind turbines are used to generate electricity based on wind power. It’s a rapidly growing industry with the job of wind turbine technicians growing faster than the average job growth rate. The median salary for this occupation is $61,770 per year. 

Also called windtechs, this job isn’t for the faint of heart. Not only do they work outside in all weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold, but they also have to climb up the wind turbine tower ladders, which are typically a few hundred feet in the air. 

3. Forensic Science Technician

Fans of television shows like the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise get an idea of what forensic science technicians do. They’re often present at crime scenes, helping law enforcement officials collect vital evidence. 

In addition to collecting evidence at crime scenes, they may also work in a lab processing collected samples and at a desk writing reports. This is a rapidly growing occupation with a median annual salary of $64,940. 

4. Fire Inspector and Investigator

Fire inspectors and investigators serve a critical role in society, inspecting indoor and outdoor settings to identify potential fire hazards and making recommendations on fire safety and prevention. They’re also responsible for making sure fire safety codes are met.

They also organize fire safety training sessions, demonstrate fire safety and evacuation procedures, work at the scene of fires to determine their cause, and collect evidence at fire scenes. The median salary for this job is $71,420 per year.

5. Commercial Diver

Diving is more than just a fun activity you do while you’re on vacation.  With a $75,570 average yearly salary, diving, specifically commercial diving, is a good-paying occupation, especially for anyone who enjoys spending time underwater.

Some in this field work on underwater structures, installing, inspecting, repairing, and removing equipment. Others may be tasked with taking photos, setting up underwater explosives, or performing experiments and environmental tests.

6. Logistician

Never heard of a logistician? That’s understandable, but the $79,400 per year median salary is enough to get one’s attention. Logistics is arranging and managing the storage and transport of goods from the time they are produced until they are purchased. 

A logistician oversees company supply chains, a product’s life cycle from its design to distribution at the point of sale. Logisticians ensure that an organization’s supply chain processes operate efficiently during each stage of the product life cycle.

7. Acupuncturist

Proponents of alternative medicine often extol the benefits of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese practice that’s used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses and diseases. It’s also used to treat pain in some instances.

The licensing requirements for acupuncturists vary by state, although most states require them to be certified. Some medical doctors include acupuncture in their treatment plans. Acupuncturists earn an average of $84,260 a year.

8. Database Administrator

IT careers are known to be well-paying, and a job with an average annual salary of $104,810 is no exception. Database administrators oversee all activities related to a company’s computer databases. 

These duties involve creating, testing, and administering databases, and pinpointing problems with database performance. A database administrator may also be in charge of implementing database security plans. 

9. Ethical Hacker

Also called a white hat hacker, these IT pros use their technology know-how to help companies develop and implement security strategies to protect their systems and networks. Their skills help organizations protect themselves from malicious or black hat hackers.

While most white hat hackers have degrees in the computer sciences, it’s not unusual for self-trained tech specialists to enter this cybersecurity occupation. The average annual salary for an ethical hacker is $107,023. 

10. Actuary

Generally affiliated with insurance companies, actuaries are responsible for determining the risk of events like accidents, natural disasters, illnesses, injuries, or deaths occurring. They use mathematical and statistical calculations to determine how much each risk will cost. 

Property and casualty, health, and life insurance are a few of the specializations of insurance actuaries. Companies also employ actuaries to handle their risk management processes. The pay for this job is $120,000 per year. 

11. Information Security Analyst

Protecting the privacy of digital information and assets is a top priority for many organizations. If a company were to experience a data breach, that could harm its reputation. Information security analysts play a key role in data protection. 

These analysts routinely check computer networks and systems for signs of vulnerabilities that put them at risk for a security breach and maintain the software used to protect data. This career pays $120,360 per year. 

12. Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers search for underground oil and gas deposits, which can be extracted and processed for sale. Once these deposits have been found, petroleum engineers develop and carry out plans for drilling.  

Other duties include designing the structures used to extract oil and gas and making sure that the equipment is installed correctly, appropriately maintained, and used correctly. The median annual pay for petroleum engineers is $135,690. 

13. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

Of all the professional specializations of psychologists, industrial-organizational psychology is easily one that many people aren’t familiar with. This field of practice works with organizations, applying  psychological approaches to the ways departments function. 

The activities in sales, marketing, management, human resources, and administration are analyzed by industrial-organizational psychologists. The results are used for training and development, updating work policies, and increasing productivity. On average, these mental health professionals earn $154,380 a year.