Reddit useru/spicy_tuna_makiposed thequestion, “Those making $100,000+, what do you do?”
Here’s what people revealed:
1.
“Mineral exploration geologist making $125K.
I’m away six or seven months of the year though, which is hard.”
u/AngryStappler
2.
“I am a doorman for a luxury residential building in NYC.
I make $110K to $120K a year.
It’s the easiest and best job I’ve ever had.”
u/Brief-Ad2053
3.
“I’m a safety coordinator for a mid-sized city.
are following OSHA and other safety laws and regulations.
I coordinate their training needs and complete audits to provide to our board of trustees.
u/TheConsoleGeek
4.
“I am an office manager.
I make $125K.”
u/buddaslovehandles
5.
“I design, build, and own escape rooms.”
u/HumbleRutabaga580
6.
Once youre established with a roster of clients, the job is relatively easy.
I work three days a week, 1520 hours, and make about $150K.
Its taken 10 years of grinding to get here though.”
u/DGUsername
7.
“Astronomer making about $100K (three years post-PhD).
u/meowcat93
8.
“Its taken nearly 10 years, but Im a flight attendant for a major US carrier.
Last year I was shy of $100K, but this year I should break it.
The longer you stay, the more you make.
At my particular airline, we arent limited to how many hours we work either.
I average about 15 days off a month.
If I worked more, I could have definitely broken $100K.
u/messky87
9.
“I work in product operations in tech.
Middle manager throw in.
Its a fine enough job, but Im definitely overpaid.
Got a degree in theater, then entered tech as a CS agent 10 years ago.”
u/Snowden42
10.
“I own a donut shop.
I had a friend who had another friend who’s family was selling their donut shop.
I had nothing to lose and gave it a try.
Now I’m pretty good at making them, but it took longer than I expected.”
u/SDoNUT1715
11.
“High up in the information security space, $200K+.
It’s so much stress, I feel sick all the time.”
u/Enxer
12.
“Im a professor at a junior college.”
u/ReedBalzac
13.
“Cancer scientist, $140K.
Seeing this situation tear my family apart woke something in me.
Now, I’m trying to be a part of the solution.
I got my Master’s degree soon after, and started at the bottom at a biotech company.
I started out making $12 an hour after college.
I asked a lot of questions and tried to be a positive influence on everyone.
I have to say, being nice and respectful will get you farther than you think.
Be the person that everyone smiles at when they see.
I switched companies multiple times, taking huge pay increases each time, as my skills and knowledge increased.
Then, I landed at my dream location.
Sometimes its about putting your ego to the side and starting at the freaking bottom.
it’s possible for you to do it.
Losing my aunty shattered my entire world.
She was my everything at the time.
I was only 6 years old.
My family was super tight-knit and loved one another so much, so this had lasting effects on everyone.
That ‘positive’ anger has gotten me through college and beyond.
It’s why I wake up in the morning now.
It doesn’t always have to be your career either.
ALSO, don’t forget to have time for your hobbies and friends.
I definitely have developed an obsession for video games because it helps me escape from reality.
A fast paced life needs balance.”
u/Westykins
14.“Paramedic.
Just tipped over $100K this year, with next to no OT.
I’m in Canada, mind you.
I believe the pay is trash in America.”
u/canucks84
“My husband is a paramedic here in the US.
The pay absolutely sucks for the things they see and have to deal with.
He works 60 hours a week just to keep food on the table.”
u/PrettyFlyForAFungii
15.
“Supply chain director for a large food distributor.
It’s hard work and stressful, but I think it’s stupid and pointless.
My wife is a nurse, and she also makes over $100K.
She actually saves lives, and I make more money than her.
I think it’s wild.”
u/Right-Ad8261
16.
“Physical therapist, sports/orthopedics.
About $120K nearly 10 years in.”
u/chedt713
17.
“I work in a union as a heavy equipment operator.
There’s a lot of travel, but its fun and have a good balance.
Currently working a computer science/cybersecurity Bachelor’s degree too.”
u/Vegetable_Two_3904
18.
“I own a travel agency.
I get to travel the world and make decent money.
Everybody who works for me travels for pleasure and business several months out of the year with their spouse.
It is a dream.”
u/UsernamesMeanNothing
19.
“I am a civil engineer.
I do land development design.
I’ve been doing it for about nine years, and I make just under $130K.
u/Lumber-Jacked
20.
“Drone pilot for feature films/TV.”
u/Dinosharktopus
21.
“I own a tech company and a consulting company on the side.
I also have an eBay store where I sell used electronics.
All together, I pull $150K to $200K annually.
u/blackwidowla
22.
“Luxury wedding planner.
My clients are mostly celebrities, politicians, and people in shipping and real estate.
u/concretecannonball
23.
“I make $200K as an IT (cloud) architect.
It’s taken many years of experience to get here, but it’s now my happy place.”
u/ilovetpb
24.
“Aircraft mechanic for a major US airline.
I make about $65/hour equating to about $135K a year.
But, with overtime, I cleared just over $200K last year.
I did work quite a bit of OT, but didnt overwork myself.
Plus, OT is completely voluntary.”
u/Drewbox
25.
“Factory process analyst.
I got hired at $60K and just passed six figures almost six years later.
u/ViolentBananas
26.
And, you have to have the confidence and skill to tell them they are full of it.
u/TheNemesis089
27.
“Manager of technical support at a company that makes hardware and software for emergency functions at police stations.
$125K a year, but $138K after a standard bonus.
I like being in the field better, but 100% WFH fits my lifestyle a bit better.”
u/xtravbx
28.
Specifically, I trigger the social media ads for a bank.
u/Son_Of_Toucan_Sam
29.
Essentially, I’m the lead accountant, financial analyst, and operations analyst for a manufacturing operation.”
u/swiftie56
30.
“Airline pilot in the US.
It took a long time to make good money.
It wasn’t a tiny charter company.
Not everyone is that lucky.”
u/rckid13
31.
“Heavy commercial diesel mechanic.
Get yourself a trade and a good crew, and work becomes a second home.”
u/InsaneLogistics
32.
“I install barcode scanners.”
u/CrazyCranium
33.
“Enlisted military (US), 10 years, $105K.
Pay can fluctuate greatly based on location.
u/AllAboutYoButt
34.
“Lead software engineer at a Fortune 50 company.
Our team owns the more important services for the larger engineering organization.
I worked my way up from call center contractor.”
u/kezow
35.
“Motion picture and television mechanical special effects.
$220K a year with an additional $140K a year from rental properties.”
u/mojopyro
36.“Climber.
Oh, for work?
We shouldnt let that define who we are.
But, I’m a producer/camera operator for adventure reality TV shows.
Turn on Discovery when youre not doing anything and keep me employed!
Watch all the Alaska shows.
u/TheGreatRandolph
37.
“Industrial maintenance technician for a popular vehicle manufacturer.
Last year, I made $136K, and this year the goal is over $150K.”
u/fielded_drag
38.
“I’m a hospital pharmacist, and make close to $130K.
u/coachrx
39.
“This is the first year I made over $100K.
I’m a data pipe engineer working on government contracts.
u/Dessel90
40.
“I am a bartender.
I get asked what my real job is almost nightly.”
u/DM_FarThor
41.
“Media sales at an AdTech company.
I’ve been in sales about 18 months, but making $100K+ for maybe eight or nine years.
I was in client services/ops for most of my career.
Getting into sales skyrocketed my income.
I love the industry.
It has great money, great perks and benefits, and is extremely fulfilling and mostly fun.”
u/KiddoTwo
42.
“I drive a garbage truck.”
u/Jaybeltran805
43.
I work from home.
u/AbsentGlare
44.“Optometrist.
For the most part, I have a great job at a private practice.
I have about a five-minute commute to work.
I can go home for lunch.
My patients include friends and neighbors.
I’m part of a community here.
I help people see better and refer the ones I can’t.”
u/SteveCress
45.
“I operate a commercial nuclear reactor.”
u/Wartzba
46.
“I nepotismed my way into owning a restaurant, and now expanded into four more locations.”
u/dropdeaddaddy69
47.
“Lawyer (but it sucks, don’t do it).”
I see my kids a lot and spend a lot of time working on my house.
I have unlimited unpaid vacations.
u/isfrying
48.
“High school teacher with a Master’s degree in the Yukon Territory, Canada.
I have over seven years of experience and earn $105K/year.
Salary grid here tops out after 10 years at $126K.
Its good money, but I definitely feel like I earn it.
Summers off are in lieu of all the overtime.
Lots of intrinsic rewards too, not unlike between a parent, but for other peoples kids.”
u/borealis365
49.
“I’m an implementation specialist at a software company making $110K.
Never been happier.”
u/i_like_pumps
50.
My base is $103K, but I make around $115K after differentials.
Could be a lot more if I ever took OT.”
u/No_Investment3205
51.“IT.
I cap out at $115,500, and I’m in California.
Even with this wage though, it doesnt feel like its a lot of money.
u/Kila4niuh
52.
“Corrections officer, $120K.
Some guys make over $200K.
Im on Long Island though, and it costs a lot to live here.
Our base pay tops out at $128K.”
u/Officer_Wedell
53.
Im at around $115K now, but Ive kind of stagnated.
Honestly, most of my job is automated now or low impact.
I did do that for a few months.
It wasnt bad, but I had a death in the family that made me quit.”
u/WATGU
54.
“I photograph luxury homes, architecture, interiors, businesses, etc.
I started teaching myself with YouTube and Google resources in 2016.
I practiced around my house, then I started emailing agents and going to open houses.
From there, it was mostly word-of-mouth.
They already have people they know and like to work with.
Its not impossible, but networking is definitely king in this industry.
Doesnt matter how good you are if no one knows you exist.”
u/boredaz
55.
“Im a merchant marine as a third assistant engineer.
u/LiveLaughLove59009
56.
For example, I worked pretty steady from February through October last year.
Since then, Ive mostly been home spending time with the family.
Its very important to have a work/home balance.”
u/Videoroadie
57.
“Product manager at a niche software agency, $120K plus bonuses and equity.
u/hopscotchmode
58.
“I run and own an auto body shop.
My main auto body techs and painter also make $100K per year.”
u/TrentZoolander
59.And: “I work for a general contractor.
I have a GED and make $120K a year, plus I’m about to get a raise.
No seven-day work weeks, and I’m home every night.
My current title is construction surveyor, but it’s about to become survey manager I think.”
“For anyone wondering, hard work for a purpose pays off.
Find a company with an agenda for helping their employees grow.
When you hit the wall, find another company like that.
you’re free to find a ‘forever’ company if that’s what you want.
I think I have, unless it makes sense to go full-time independent 3D model builder and consultant.
Also, you should enjoy what you do for a living more than 50% of the time.”
u/HazardousBusiness
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
