Unexpected Top Paying Jobs and How to Get One

Unexpected Top Paying Jobs and How to Get One

Before you just jump to conclusions about law, medicine, and business as the only top-paying fields out there, you may be surprised to find that there are some fascinating careers that pay top dollar. It's not just about the job falling into your lap either. These careers take as much focus and specialization as becoming a lawyer, so you need to be prepared to train. But if you plan ahead, you could be in good shape as these fields are a little off the beaten path. When, for example, have you ever heard a child say, "I want to be a master sommelier when I grow up”?

Master Sommelier

What They Do

Sommelier is French for wine steward, a person who's is trained and knowledgeable in wine.  The sommelier knows where to get the best wines, how to store them and when it is important to rotate the wines in the cellar.

How to Become One

The career of a sommelier begins with a very strenuous training. Today there are only 178 sommeliers in the world. The Court of Master Sommeliers judges applicants based on performance, appearance and knowledge. You'll take extensive blind taste tests and written exams and then you will sit in front of a jury in a final service exam. If you're one of the great few who pass all of these tests, you will be able to place the letters, "M.S." after your name so that future employers will see that you're a true expert. In a recent exam, 63 people took the test and only 6 passed, so it's not easy, but the payoff could be worth it.  Several colleges offer wine study programs that help prepare you for this prestigious position. Once your are a master sommelier, consider pairing the certificate with an online business degree in preparation for starting your own wine business.

Airplane Repo Agent
What They Do
Nick Popovich has proven that building a business around repossessing airplanes whose owners have missed their lease payments can be a very lucrative job. Since the beginning of its inception, Popovich's company, made up of a team of researchers in the office and a team of repo men in the field, has repo'd more than 1500 luxury planes. Since the repo agent makes <a href="http://www.jobmonkey.com/uniquejobs/airplane-repossession.html">upwards of 10 percent commission</a> of the resale value of the airplane, that means they've made around a million dollars per repossession. Not all repo men are as successful as Popovich and his team, but the numbers don't lie. If an agent repossesses just one airplane every year, he or she could take the rest of the year off and still call themselves millionaires.
How to Become One
If this sounds like the job for you, not so fast. It's not as simple as showing up at someone's door and asking for the airplane back.  Airplane repo agents need a pilot's license and  the ability to fly not only ultralights, but also private jets, 747s,  crop dusters, float planes, and even traffic helicopters. Beyond having a pilot's license, you need to be a bonafide risk-taker. You will be "stealing" airplanes and flying under pressure. Popovich is consistently threatened with his life and chased. If you can fly and take the heat, this could be a good venture for you.

Flavorist
What They Do
If you prefer a quieter existence and like working in more controlled environments than the chase scene waiting for you as an airplane repo man, you'll enjoy the job of the flavorist.  Flavorists engineer natural and artificial flavors used in various types of food depending on the company you choose to work for.  Though you may not have heard of it, the flavorist's job has ben around since refrigeration was invented and food processing technology became a huge endeavor.  As a flavorist today you could make almost $200,000 per year.
How to Become One
Flavorists are also called food chemists and need at the very least they need an undergraduate degree in biology or chemistry.  In many cases, food studies require a PhD in those fields in order to qualify for the job. Some schools such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Cornell among others, offer specific degrees in food science.

There are a lot of options when it comes to making money, so if that's your focus, why not find something that you love to do as well. It may mean a lot of schooling, but at least you'll find joy in the journey.