Unexpected 6 Figure Salaries

Forbes combed through data gathered annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the Labor Department, to find the most surprising six-figure jobs. The BLS culls its information from surveys it mails to businesses, and it releases its Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Data each spring. The report shares information about more than 800 occupations, including hourly and annual wages, total numbers of workers in the profession, and the states and metro areas that pay the best. To make the cut for our list, at least 10% of employees in the profession had to earn more than $100,000 a year.


Here are some professions that you might be surprised to learn pay six figures. The top-earning 10% of these professionals earn more than $100,000 a year, on average, according to BLS data.

1. Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

BLS job description: Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role. 

Top 10% make $120,050, on average. 
Mean annual income: $63,710 
Total employed: 2,040 
Top-paying state: New York


2. Technical Writers

BLS job description: Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work. 

Top 10% make $102,250, on average. 
Mean annual income: $67,280 
Total employed: 45,120 
Top-paying state: California

3. Gaming Managers

BLS job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino. May formulate house rules.

Top 10% make $116,840, on average. 
Mean annual income: $74,780 
Total employed: 3,570 
Top-paying state: New Jersey


4. Home Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

BLS job description: Teach courses in childcare, family relations, finance, nutrition, and related subjects pertaining to home management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. 

Top 10% make $110,650, on average. 
Mean annual income: $68,080 
Total employed: 5,490 
Top-paying state: California 

[Related: Where Have All the ‘Good’ Jobs Gone?]

5. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

BLS job description: Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard. 

Top 10% make $119,280, on average. 
Mean annual income: $71,760 
Total employed: 30,220 
Top-paying state: Rhode Island

6. Art Directors

BLS job description: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual communications media, such as print, broadcasting, and advertising. Direct workers engaged in art work or layout design.

Top 10% make $166,620, on average. 
Mean annual income: $95,500 
Total employed: 30,680 
Top-paying state: New York

7. Transportation Inspectors

BLS job description: Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors; rail inspectors; and other inspectors of transportation vehicles, not elsewhere classified. 

Top 10% make $110,210, on average. 
Mean annual income: $65,770 
Total employed: 24,810 
Top-paying state: Washington, DC

8. Broadcast News Analysts

BLS job description: Analyze, interpret, and broadcast news received from various sources. 

Top 10% make $159,530, on average. 
Mean annual income: $76,370 
Total employed: 5,200 
Top-paying state: Florida

9. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers

BLS job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities. 

Top 10% make $112,150, on average. 
Mean annual income: $70,010 
Total employed: 3,340 
Top-paying state: Kansas

10. Insurance Sales Agents

BLS job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company. 

Top 10% make $115,300, on average. 
Mean annual income: $62,970 
Total employed: 321,780 
Top-paying state: Rhode Island

Click here for the full list of Surprising Six-Figure Jobs.
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