America's Surprising Six-Figure Jobs

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Matthew Kirdahy, Forbes.com

To marketing majors everywhere: There's a six-figure job waiting for you at the casino.

Jeff Walker, 47, who graduated from college in 1983 with a marketing degree, is a gaming manager at Mohegan Sun, the Connecticut-based casino and resort. Walker has been with the company 12 years.

His career in gaming started in 1983 when he applied for a marketing job at The Sands in Atlantic City, N.J., when he graduated from the State University of New York's Geneseo campus.

Hitting the Jackpot

Gaming manager is one of America's surprising six-figure jobs, as compiled by Forbes.com based on the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data.

The top 10% of gaming managers, whose primary responsibilities are overseeing staff and catering to gamblers, earn $106,220 a year, while the average annual salary is $69,600. Nevada, home of Las Vegas, arguably the world's most attractive spot to gamblers, is the top-paying state for this occupation.

Walker said job seekers considering a position in gaming should expect to work at two to three casinos before nestling into a six-figure spot.

"You have to move and sacrifice," he said.

More High-Fliers

Other jobs on the list include teachers at the post-secondary level, flight attendants and air traffic controllers.

Post-secondary education teachers can earn an annual salary in the average range of $35,996-$116,247. The average annual salary of the top-paying teaching positions on the Bureau of Labor Statistics list is $73,345.

Post-secondary economics teachers claimed the highest annual salary, with the top 10% earning $135,380.

Air traffic controllers rank No. 1 on this list with the top 10% earning $141,860 a year.

Perched in a tower overlooking the airport, the air traffic controller regulates and controls commercial airline flights to ensure flight safety. The average annual salary is $107,780, while the median annual salary is $112,930. Illinois is the highest-paying state for this occupation. O'Hare International Airport, based in Chicago, Ill., is one of the busiest airports in the world.

Maybe your six-figure opportunity isn't in the tower. Try looking to the skies. The top 10% of flight attendants earn an annual salary of $102,660, while the average annual salary is $62,880. Corporate positions will pay the most, though they're hard to get--at least harder than some of the other surprises on this list.

5 Jobs with Surprisingly High Salaries

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

Click here for more surprising six-figure jobs.

Copyrighted, Forbes.com. All rights reserved.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

$100k ain't what it used to be. Most professionals hit that point no later than their mid 30s these days. Which doesn't mean professionals make more than they used to, it means $100k buys less (a lot less) than it used to.

At my employer we have 14 pay bands, numbered 1 through 14. Bands 9 through 14 are all 100k+. Bands 9 through 14 make up 35% of the close to 20,000 employees.

$250k is the new $100k.

[Jenn! 918]

Yeah, none of those were all that surprising too me. Seems like most professionals make 100K, at least around here.

[Teacher Mark 53]

$100k ain't what it used to be. Most professionals hit that point no later than their mid 30s these days. Which doesn't mean professionals make more than they used to, it means $100k buys less (a lot less) than it used to.

At my employer we have 14 pay bands, numbered 1 through 14. Bands 9 through 14 are all 100k+. Bands 9 through 14 make up 35% of the close to 20,000 employees.

$250k is the new $100k.

Which band are you at Troll?

I worked with the WWE at the Mohegan Sun. It rocks!

Edited May 29, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[Ilya R. 0]

I dont think its fair to compare Salaries in NJ/NY to like Alabama. Its all about where you are, so 100k for someone in Ark, is still alot of money.

Edited May 29, 2008 by Ilya R.

[Alex+R 0]

That's why I want Rey's job to transfer him to somewhere just like Alabama. They have to keep paying him the same, but wow it might go a lot farther. We saw we could have a mansion with a pool for our rent here. This is a wistful little conversation we've had many times here.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

That's why I want Rey's job to transfer him to somewhere just like Alabama. They have to keep paying him the same, but wow it might go a lot farther. We saw we could have a mansion with a pool for our rent here. This is a wistful little conversation we've had many times here.

i don't think you'd fit in too well in alabama.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I think I've told this story before. My friend sold his little cape cod in central jersey and moved to Dallas, transfer, kept his salary. Got a Mansion, bought an SUV, just had a baby. This is his 3rd summer there and he's already started whining (again) about his crazy energy bills. Apparently when you own a 4000-5000 sq ft home you have to cool it in the summer. Whoda thunk it.

That's why I want Rey's job to transfer him to somewhere just like Alabama. They have to keep paying him the same, but wow it might go a lot farther. We saw we could have a mansion with a pool for our rent here. This is a wistful little conversation we've had many times here.

i don't think you'd fit in too well in alabama.

I don't know about that. I have cousins in Huntsville, it's nice and quite metro.

Nothing like Manhattan but then again she's from Wisconsin isn't she? (or minnesota, I always get them confused)

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My brother got transferred from San Diego to South Carolina - he went from a bitty condo to a huge 4 bedroom house on a half an acre of land. I am a little jealous.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My brother got transferred from San Diego to South Carolina - he went from a bitty condo to a huge 4 bedroom house on a half an acre of land. I am a little jealous.

It's hard not to be. Where in SC? I have ex colleagues who moved to upstate SC (greenville area), it's beautiful out there I am told.

[Sister Fracas 5]

pfft...I'd like to even be close to 100K... non-profit is exactly like it's always been... LOL

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pfft...I'd like to even be close to 100K... non-profit is exactly like it's always been... LOL

i guess its called non profit for a reason

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My brother got transferred from San Diego to South Carolina - he went from a bitty condo to a huge 4 bedroom house on a half an acre of land. I am a little jealous.

It's hard not to be. Where in SC? I have ex colleagues who moved to upstate SC (greenville area), it's beautiful out there I am told.

Spartanburg, so not far from your ex-colleague. It is very nice out there - Greenville is particularly nice, I think with parks, cafes, galleries, restaurants and what not. The drawback is that if he decides to leave his job, there's not a lot of opportunity at his level so he'd have to move.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The drawback is that if he decides to leave his job, there's not a lot of opportunity at his level so he'd have to move.

Yup and in my mind that is a huge drawback to that area. To lots of the cheaper areas, actually. Land is worth more in our areas for a very good reason.

[Alex+R 0]

I think I've told this story before. My friend sold his little cape cod in central jersey and moved to Dallas, transfer, kept his salary. Got a Mansion, bought an SUV, just had a baby. This is his 3rd summer there and he's already started whining (again) about his crazy energy bills. Apparently when you own a 4000-5000 sq ft home you have to cool it in the summer. Whoda thunk it.

That's why I want Rey's job to transfer him to somewhere just like Alabama. They have to keep paying him the same, but wow it might go a lot farther. We saw we could have a mansion with a pool for our rent here. This is a wistful little conversation we've had many times here.

i don't think you'd fit in too well in alabama.

I don't know about that. I have cousins in Huntsville, it's nice and quite metro.

Nothing like Manhattan but then again she's from Wisconsin isn't she? (or minnesota, I always get them confused)

Heh, I'm from Minneapolis. Pretty much liberal mecca that makes the state blue. And then I went to UW-Madison, also an extreme lefty city. In real life I do get along pretty well with those with different views, though. And in a place where just a few have their hearts in the right places, it's easier to find each other.