13 Underpaid Jobs Paying $87K+ and Needing Workers
Understanding the Value of a Stable, Boring Job
Most people work to live, rather than living to work. People crave a stable job that gives them enough time off to enjoy their friends, family, and hobbies while also allowing them to save for things like home ownership and retirement. If you want to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, a “boring” job with a solid weekly paycheck might be exactly what you need.
If you’re looking for a steady, boring job that pays the bills, these are the positions that are currently in demand.
12 Ways to Earn a Steady Income
1. Project Managers
Median annual salary: $100,750
The Project Management Institute projects 25 million roles will be needed over the next five years, which means roughly two million people will have to join the field every year to keep up with demand. Projects aren’t going to coordinate budgets, schedules, and staffing on their own, after all. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a lower projection of 78,200 job openings per year, but the position still pays well and doesn’t necessarily require a degree.
2. Accountants
Median annual salary: $93,000
It’s estimated that 340,000 accountants have left the workforce over the past five years, and 75% of those remaining are expected to retire within the decade. A bachelor’s degree is typically required, but certifications can also improve job prospects and bring in higher salaries. The BLS estimates a more conservative growth rate of 5%, but that is still faster than average.
3. Data Scientists
Median annual salary: $112,590
It’s all about spreadsheets, databases, and dashboards for a data scientist. Pulling data, running models, and checking for errors can be repetitive — but it can pay well if you’ve got a bachelor’s degree in math, computer science, or something related to the field. Many of these jobs are remote, and are done by sitting at a desk all day.
4. Actuaries
Median annual salary: $125,770
Estimating risk for insurance companies and other financial products isn’t glamorous, but it’s steady and pays the bills. It doesn’t require a flashy degree, but it does require passing a series of exams. The BLS estimates this field will grow 22% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average.
5. Management Analysts
Median annual salary: $101,190
Organizations bring in management analysts when they need to cut costs or improve efficiency. This is data-heavy work that can often be done remotely, but can involve interviewing employees. The BLS projects approximately 98,100 job openings in this field each year over the next 10 years, so it’s expected to be a highly in-demand position.
6. Database Administrators
Median annual salary: $123,100
Every company needs databases to manage and organize their information, ranging from client records to cataloging, and more. The job requires a degree related to computer science, but it is steady work that is projected to grow at a steady pace and increase by about 7,800 jobs each year for the next decade.
7. Sales Managers
Median annual salary: $138,060
Sales isn’t particularly fun or exciting, but if you have experience as a rep, then you can trade in the commissions for a steady paycheck as a manager. Coordinating a sales team along with product or service delivery doesn’t necessarily require a degree, and the field is projected to grow by about 49,000 jobs each year over the next 10 years.
8. Funeral Sales Specialist
Median annual salary: $98,534
Working in the funeral industry may be considered gloomy, but sales specialists are largely dealing with pre-need sales and helping with planning for the inevitable future rather than dealing with freshly grieving families. It doesn’t necessarily require a degree, although an associate’s degree tends to offer higher salaries.
9. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighters
Median annual salary: $90,740
You don’t need a degree to fight fires, but if you have experience, you can take a step away from the action by working in a coordinating position for first responders. This is a good fit for people who don’t want to be chained to a desk all day, but also don’t want to be directly in the action.
10. Quality Assurance Worker
Median annual salary: $102,994
Testing products or services to make sure they meet requirements and standards is ideally a boring job, because nobody wants emergencies. The highest pay can often be found in positions in the federal government, although private sector jobs are also available.
11. Insurance Broker
Median annual salary: $103,765
Working as an intermediary for an insurance company by helping customers or businesses get appropriate coverage isn’t going to be a passion project, but it’s steady work that will pay the bills. You’ll be spending your day dealing with policy documentation and claims processing, and a degree isn’t necessary to land one of these roles.
12. Compliance Officer
Median annual salary: $109,083
Industries with strict regulatory requirements utilize compliance officers to interpret regulations and design programs to be implemented. A degree may be required, but on-the-job training is also offered by many companies. About 33,000 job openings are projected by the BLS each year.
Emerging Opportunities in Green Energy
13. Wind Energy Operations Manager
Median annual salary: $115,590
There is a shift towards green energy solutions, and wind is one of the leading alternative energy sources. Technicians make about $62,580, but managing the operations can double that pay in exchange for navigating scheduling, monitoring equipment, and verifying that safety requirements are being followed. The field is expected to grow at a rate of 50% over the next 10 years, so it’s likely to stay in high demand.
Final Thoughts
The age-old wisdom “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” sounds great, but it’s meaningless if it doesn’t pay the bills. No matter how meaningful a job feels, if it doesn’t help you get ahead financially, it will always lose out to a more “boring” role that offers stability, a living wage, and the ability to support yourself.
If you’re thinking about a career shift, start strategically: explore online courses or certificate programs you can complete while still employed, so you can move toward better pay without sacrificing financial security.
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