The Richest and Poorest U.S. Cities by Income

GettySan Jose, Calif., has the highest median household income among the country’s 25 most populous cities, with the city’s level approaching $77,000 last year, about 50% higher than the national median of $51,000, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The city boasts that it’s “home to the largest concentration of technology expertise in the world — more than 6,600 technology companies employing more than 254,000 people.” Taking a broader view, California is home to several top cities for household income. However, the state is one of only five where inequality is higher than the U.S. level. Median household income in California is higher than for the U.S. as a whole, but the state’s poverty rate is also above the national average.

Well educated in San Francisco

ThinkstockFollowing close on San Jose’s heels is San Francisco, where median household income hit almost $70,000 last year. The city is filled with computer and technical workers, many making north of $90,000 a year. People are highly educated, with 52% of those at least 25-years old having at least a college degree, compared with 29% across the U.S. Even San Francisco’s youngest residents are into education: about 70% of the preschool-age tots are enrolled in school, compared with 47% across the U.S. Also of note: more than one-third San Francisco’s population is foreign-born, compared with 13% of the U.S.

Wealth in Washington

GettyHouseholds in Washington, D.C. are No. 3 when it comes to income, with a median of about $63,000. Folks there are well educated, and home values are high. It’s a company town — about 29% of workers are federal, state or local government employees. About 11% of Washington households have income of at least $200,000, compared with 4% in the United States.

Slew of riches in Seattle

APIn Seattle the median household income was $61,000 last year. The largest industry is educational services, and health care and social assistance, followed by professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services. Turns out coffee is a pretty big deal there, too: Starbucks (SBUX) is headquartered in Seattle.

Money and meerkats in San Diego

GettySan Diego had a median household income of $61,000 last year, ranking it No. 5 among the country’s largest cities. About 44% of workers are in management, business, science, and arts occupations. And, of course, there’s the city’s famous zoo, home to meerkats, wombats and other creatures. But San Diego isn’t resting on its cute laurels. According to the city’s website, the regional economy “continues to undergo a dynamic transformation from one based on military and defense spending to an economy that is propelled by high-technology companies competing in the international marketplace.”

A long way to go in Detroit

GettyDetroit has the lowest median household income among the country’s most populous cities, ranking it No. 25. Last year household income was about $25,000, half of the national level. While the auto industry has improved, Detroit remains deeply troubled. The median value for an owner-occupied home in this city is about $50,000, less than one-third of the U.S. level. Meanwhile, only about 13% of people at least 25 years old have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 29% for the country. Detroit says it wants to reclaim its “future as a world-class city,” by diversifying into areas such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

Low home prices in Philadelphia

GettyAt $34,000, the median household income in Philadelphia is a jump up from Detroit, but still ranks the City of Brotherly Love at No. 24. The median value for an owner-occupied home was $142,000, compared with a U.S. level of $174,000. The educational services, and health care and social assistance industry accounts for about three-tenths of the working population, with major employers such as the University of Pennsylvania and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) .

Memphis is singing the blues

ThinkstockMemphis ranks No. 23, with a median household income of about $35,000 in 2011. The largest chunk of the employed population — about one-fifth — is in the educational services, and health care and social assistance industry. There are major employers such as FedEx (FDX) — which recently issued a profit warning — International Paper (IP)  and AutoZone (AZO) . Tourists can enjoy a visit to Graceland.

Poverty in Baltimore

APHouseholds in Baltimore have a relatively low median income of about $39,000, ranking the city No. 22. The setting for the gritty, fictional television series “The Wire,” Baltimore has a median value for an owner-occupied home of $154,000, compared with $174,000 for the U.S. About one-quarter of the city’s population is in poverty. Educational services, and health care and social assistance is by far the largest industry, with major employers such as Johns Hopkins University.

Indianapolis chugging along

ThinkstockThe median household income in Indianapolis is about $39,000, ranking it No. 21. The largest industry is educational services, and health care and social assistance, followed by retail trade. About one-in-four people who are at least 25 have at least a bachelor’s degree. The city, known for its auto racing, has attracted substantial foreign investment from firms such Rolls-Royce (RR.L) .

Original Post: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/richest-poorest-u-cities-income-170207273.html

Smart Spending: The Secrets of the Value Menu

Smart Spending: How fast-food chains use the value menu to get you to spend more

By Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | Associated Press – Fri, Sep 14, 2012 1:27 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- That cheeseburger on the value menu may end up costing more than you think.

Whether it's the "Dollar Menu" at McDonald's or the "Why Pay More Menu" at Taco Bell, fast-food chains often spotlight their cheapest offerings to attract customers.

The items usually cost a buck or so and are no doubt a deal if you're looking for a quick treat. But there's a reason why companies dangle the offers; customers often end up spending more on other items once they're in the restaurants. Think $3 coffee frappes and fruit smoothies.

"Every restaurant has an opportunity to get customers to trade up to more expensive, higher-priced options including main entrees, sides, beverages and desserts," said Darren Tristano, an analyst at research firm Technomic.

Additionally, value menus aren't as filling as they were a few years ago because restaurants swap out items that become too expensive to offer at such low prices. Earlier this year, for instance, small fries and small soft drinks disappeared off McDonald's Dollar Menu.

That doesn't mean that you should stay away from value menus. After all, you get deals on certain items because restaurants make money on others.

But as a consumer, it's worth knowing how fast-food chains rely on value offerings — and the role they play in how much you ultimately spend.

FILLING UP THE TRAY

For restaurants, the profit margins for value menu items are often razor-thin. But they make money off them by selling the items in huge volumes.

Taco Bell, for example, is known for its affordable prices even in the fast-food industry; its "Why Pay More" menu offers 89-cent nachos and 99-cent tacos.

But chances are that you'll get more than one taco. Not including a drink, customers order an average of three items, says Brian Niccol, the chain's chief marketing officer.

Better yet, customers may opt for (relatively) pricier items, such as a grilled stuffed burrito, which is around $3. Or they might "trade up" to the new taco that comes in a Doritos flavored shell, which costs 30 cents more than a regular taco. The idea is that people will fill up their trays, hopefully with more profitable foods.

The same philosophy applies to other fast-food chains, including Subway. The ubiquitous sandwich shop doesn't have a value menu per se, but its $5 foot-long deal has become a staple of its marketing. Without giving details, Subway Chief Marketing Officer Tony Pace said the offer has been a "game changer" in terms of bringing in customers since it was introduced in 2008.

And as customers wait for their sandwiches, they may be tempted by the variety of chips (about $1 a bag) that line the counter or the cookies (three for $1.39) by the register.

WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK WITH THAT?

Whether you choose to order a drink with your meal makes a big difference to fast-food chains. That's because fountain drinks have high profit margins.

"The more often you can sell a drink, the better you feel about providing discounts on other items," said Niccol of Taco Bell.

In the past year, however, customers have kept spending in check by ordering only food or requesting only tap water, according to a study by The NPD Group. As sales of sodas and diet sodas have slipped, restaurants have responded by aggressively marketing other drinks, such as specialty coffees and smoothies.

It's been a big part of McDonald's success in recent years; the chain introduced premium coffee drinks in 2009 and fruit smoothies the following year. It's no surprise that Burger King followed suit with its own coffee frappes and smoothies as part of its revamp earlier this year. Wendy's is also testing specialty coffees in select markets.

At Taco Bell, customers can get a Fruitista Freeze, a frozen drink topped with fruit pieces, or Limeade Sparklers, which is lemon-lime soda and lime juice.

"There's definitely a consumer trend of splurging on drinks," says Niccol of Taco Bell.

In fact, "beverage only" trips to fast-food restaurants are increasing, according to The NPD Group. These trips are often for shakes, smoothies, slushy drinks and coffee.

SKIMPIER MENUS

Value menus aren't as meaty as they once were, either.

When McDonald's first introduced its Dollar Menu a decade ago, for example, the flagship offering was the Big 'N Tasty, made with a quarter-pound beef patty. But as McDonald's and other fast-food chains pay more for beef, cheese and other ingredients, what customers can buy for just a buck isn't quite as filling.

The Big 'N Tasty lasted on the Dollar Menu for about a year. McDonald's then added the Double Cheeseburger, which has smaller patties, to the lineup instead.

About three years ago, McDonald's took the Double Cheeseburger off the Dollar Menu and replaced it with the McDouble, which has one slice of cheese, instead of two.

As ingredient prices have risen, McDonald's in March introduced its "Extra Value Menu," where items cost closer to $2. That's where the two-cheese-slice Double Cheeseburger is now found.

"What it boiled down to was our ability to offer our customers options that make sense for them, but also make sense for us," says Danya Proud, a spokeswoman for McDonald's.

The changes may be why the Dollar Menu now makes up about 10 percent of McDonald's business, down from about 13 percent in earlier years.

Original Post: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/smart-spending-secrets-value-menu-180303014.html

11 Ways to Save Big on College Textbooks

Most college students will be returning to campus later this month, and they’ll spend an estimated average of $655 on textbooks for the school year.

That sounds low to me – more like what I’d spend in a semester as an English major a few years ago.

The National Association of College Stores says today’s prices are less than two years ago ($667) or four years ago ($702), but it’s still a lot. And $47 in savings isn’t all that comforting when you consider the average total cost of college has jumped 28.6 percent – almost $4,000 – over those same four years, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Anything you can do to offset costs counts. So here are some strategies to save on your textbooks. Also, check out how to make the most from selling your books.

Now let’s add more details and tips…

1. Contact your professors now

Class may not start for weeks, but chances are your textbooks are already decided – professors have to give college stores advance notice so they can order copies. So email your profs and ask for the syllabus or required textbook list so you can snag the cheapest copies before your classmates get the chance.

If you know students who have had that professor before, talk to them. They might still have a copy for cheap. And the professor might say you need a certain book, but your friend who had him might tell you they only used it in class once, and there was nothing from it on the tests. But either way, before you buy…

2. Visit the campus library

Why pay anything when you can borrow it free? If you’re quick enough, you may be able to get one of the library’s precious few copies. If it’s checked out, see if you can reserve a copy that’s due back soon.

And don’t forget digital libraries. As Stacy mentioned in the video, many out-of-copyright works are available on sites such as Project Gutenberg and Bartleby.

3. Buy used

Used books have to be in decent condition for stores to resell them, so that’s not a concern. The savings can be significant, especially on an older edition. On several occasions in college, I bought used books online for less than $10 (including shipping) when the new price was $60 or more. None had significant defects (sometimes a little highlighting or writing) or were missing anything essential for the class.

4. Check rentals

Companies like Chegg, BookRenter and CampusBookRentals helped create an active market for textbook rental. Now many college bookstores offer the option, which can save a third or more over buying. (If you rent from an online store, shipping is usually covered.)

Just be aware that if the book is relevant to your major and you might reuse it, the savings might be greater by buying. It can be hard to tell whether you’ll need a book again, but if it’s by an author important to the field, the odds increase you’ll want to own. I had books overlap in different English classes, and I also reused a few books from undergrad in my graduate courses.

5. Look for digital

As the number of tablets and e-readers grows, so does the selection of digital textbooks. And you can also rent digitally. Last year, The Chronicle of Higher Education found an accounting textbook that “retails at $197 in print and $109 as an e-book, [but] would cost $57 to rent from Amazon for three months,” with the option to extend the rental or purchase it later. Amazon suggests you can save up to 80 percent with its Kindle rentals, and you don’t even need to buy a Kindle – there are compatible reading apps for computers and smartphones.

6. Compare prices

Prices can vary widely among both new and used copies, and online isn’t always cheaper. You can easily save 20 percent even on new books by comparison shopping.

At a minimum, I would suggest checking at Half.com and Amazon.com in addition to your school bookstore and any nearby off-campus competitors.

BookFinder.com, DirectTextbook.com, and TextbookPriceComparison.com can help you compare.

7. Make sure you get everything

Sometimes books are packaged with software, codes for required online access, digital content, study guides, or workbooks. If the course requires any of that stuff, make sure your copy includes it – or that you can still save by buying it separately.

8. Know the rules

Understand the refund policy when you buy, so you don’t get burned if you end up not needing a book or drop a class. Being in a hurry to open it can hurt you – unwrapped or marked books might not get you a full refund.

9. Keep receipts

Not only will you need these for returns, but you might want them for tax deductions.

10. Pay smart

Your school may offer textbook advance loans to ease you into the semester before financial aid comes in. You might also be tempted to charge books to your credit card. Both those options risk extra fees and possibly interest, so read up before you swipe or sign.

On the other hand, credit cards are smart to use for online purchases, in case there are any disputes. Just pay off the balance as quickly as possible.

11. Sell back

Digital books and rentals may save you money up front, but until they dominate the market, most textbooks will still have good resale value. For now, you ultimately keep more money in your pocket by buying used and reselling before a new edition is released. (When a new edition comes out, the value plummets – which is why you can buy old editions for so little.) But notice we say “sell,” and not “trade in.” Selling to your college store after finals is fast, but it’s not the way to get the most money back.

If you have the financial flexibility, reselling is the way to save the most. In May, we did an in-depth post on how to turn your textbooks into cash. Here’s a sample of Money Talks News writer Ricky Michalski’s analysis…

I found Chegg sells [my chemistry book] for:

• $165.49 new
• $155.49 used
• $117.99 as an e-book
• $50.99 for a rental copy

But I bought the same book used on Amazon for $75 – and when I was ready to sell it, one bookstore near my campus offered me $72 for my copy. Final price: $3 for a textbook!

Bottom line? There are tons of ways to save on textbooks, some mutually exclusive. But a little legwork can mean really big savings.

Original Post: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/11-ways-save-big-college-153713865.html;_ylt=Al9VeeZER3ffUbAOkle6_YzA34dG;_ylu=X3oDMTRob3RuZjBrBG1pdANQZXJzb25hbCBGaW5hbmNlIEVkdWNhdGlvbiBDb3N0cwRwa2cDODBiZWFkMmUtZTU2NS0zNmYxLWIxMTktMzQ2YjgyZWJjMDdhBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNNZWRpYVNlY3Rpb25MaXN0BHZlcgM5NmFiZGNjNy1lMTdlLTExZTEtOWZkZC00MjVkNzg4MWNkNjY-;_ylg=X3oDMTJlMGdwa2VtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANwZXJzb25hbGZpbmFuY2V8Y2FyZWVyLWVkdWNhdGlvbgRwdANzZWN0aW9ucw--;_ylv=3

How to Make Money Selling Used Books

It’s a bit of a horrifying experience the first time you walk into a college bookstore. I remember the first time saying to myself, “You want a $145 for that?” To say I felt ripped off is an understatement, which is why this side hustle I’m about to share is all the more delicious.

I’ve written previously about how I sell used books online for extra money (“How to Become a Used Book Hunter“), but that involves going to garage sales every weekend and sweating the summer heat. Today I’m going to show you how to buy textbooks online at sites like Ebay, and then how to resell them online for a profit. Consider it my sweet revenge against the bookstores that overcharged me as a college student. 

Here’s how to do it…

There’s a handy little tool I use to make this work at RentScouter.com. Their site will let you plug in a book’s ISBN number (right next to the UPC) and then it will tell you how much the book is worth and which buyback company will give you the most money. I use this tool before buying a book to make sure that there is a company willing to pay more for the book than what the Ebay seller is charging.

Let me give you a couple of examples I found this week…

Here is a screenshot of an auction that just closed for the book “Fundamentals of Physical Geography.” It was sold for $52.50 (plus $3.99 for shipping) giving the buyer a total cost of $56.49. Using the tool at Rent Scouter, I see that Moola4Books.com is paying $61.25 for the same book and they will cover the cost of shipping if I send it to them, giving me a profit margin of $4.76.

Also on Rent Scouter, it shows that Amazon’s buyback program would be willing to give me a $71.77 Amazon gift card for this book. Amazon’s program also comes with free shipping so I would profit a $15.28 gift card. Not too bad!

Here’s another one:

After shipping charges, this book cost the buyer $37.11. Rent Scouter shows that it could be traded in for a $41.26 Amazon gift card, giving me a profit of $4.15.

As you can see the profit margins aren’t huge on a single book, because there are several other Ebayers playing this trade-in game. However, if you can average a $5 profit margin on each book, you only need to buy 5 books everyday to pocket an extra $750 dollars each month! Considering there over a million textbook auctions on Ebay right now, it shouldn’t be too hard to find 5 books a day to resell.

If you do decide to sell textbooks for cash, there are a couple of things you need to remember:

• Be sure to check the condition of the book before buying it. Most buyback companies expect a little wear and tear, but if there are ripped pages or severe damage to the cover, they probably won’t accept your book.
• Pack your books carefully. Most buyback companies will give you a prepaid shipping label, but you are responsible for your own packaging. If the books are damaged during transit, you’ll have to eat the loss.
• Be careful of payment fees. If you are offered the choice of a Paypal payment or a check payment, keep in mind that if you choose Paypal, you will need to deduct those fees from your profit margin.

Original Post at: http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/2011/09/how-to-make-750-a-month-selling-used-books

How to Make Money Buying Virtual Real Estate

by John Preston 

For Sale: Luxurious, seaside bungalow. We guarantee that the structure will never need re-shingling, re-siding, a new furnace, a new water heater or foundation repair. Appliances will never break; you’ll die before they do. Property’s unique arrangement makes it so that you will never need homeowner’s insurance, gas and electric, garbage pickup, property taxes or water.

Best of all this real estate is so cheap, there’s no need to start Googling refinance rates and mortgage brokers. So, who’s ready to buy?

This is not a deal that is too good to be true. Anyone can go out and make a real estate purchase like the one listed. Although, did I forget to mention that the house doesn’t technically exist except in a computer game that you play online?

I’ll stop my sales pitch, because I just lost many of you. While you may not be interested in spending money on virtual real estate, there are hundreds of thousands who play online video games and would jump at the opportunity.

Today’s weird business might be about pretend products, but the money earned is very spendable and just as green as any bills found in physical cash registers.

Anshe Chung, the First Virtual Real Estate Tycoon

For Ailin Graef, the game Second Life wasn’t just a virtual world where she’d escape the doldrums of reality through an alter ego. The game was a place for her to use her computer and design talents to build and develop virtual real estate for other players. Those talents were worth millions.

The game Second Life created a complete virtual world for players. Kind of like a more realistic and open-ended Sims game. One of the game’s features was the use of an online currency called Linden Dollars that could be converted into actual money. Since the game currency had real value, astute players could use their unique game talents to earn real income.

With a mere $10, Ailin Graef created an avatar named Anshe Chung who came to control 36 square kilometers of virtual land in Second Life, worth over a million in real dollars. Chung’s empire started with small virtual real estate purchases which were subdivided and redesigned with chic landscaping and architecture, then sold to other resident avatars. Virtual real estate success gave birth to a real company staffed with 20 to 25 employees. (Source)

What We Can Learn from Ailin Graef

Lesson #1: Your Talents are Worth Money

You might have goofy talents, but those talents can be worth millions. For Ailin Graef, she was proficient in her use of the Second Life platform and had an artistic eye for virtual architecture. I’m confident that neither of these talents would have impressed a crowd at any given cocktail party, but who cares? Technology opened a worldwide market for her talents.

Since the beginning of time, entrepreneurs have battled basic business constraints: how do I reach my market and how will my market reach me. Technology is reducing the difficulty of both these constraints. When you think about these basics you can see how traditional commerce made selling your talents difficult.

If you had really amazing Rubik’s Cube skills and wanted to give lessons, how would you reach the thousands of interested trainees spread across the world 30 years ago? You might be able to write a book if you could find a publisher. Today, there is any number of ways to sell your talent. You can create You Tube videos with advertising, a virtual class, an eBook, etc.

Lesson #2: Solving a Consumer Problem is All the Reality You Need

Although Ailin Graef’s talents were virtual, she fulfilled a vital role for Second Life players. Building your own property in Second Life required a great deal of time and effort from new players. Players could spend a small amount of money and receive a pre-built virtual home instantly.

Consumers have an endless supply of problems and they are just waiting to pay someone to arrive at a reasonable solution. It’s your mission as penny hoarders to find those answers. Succeed in this process and earning money won’t just be a dream, but a reality.

Original Post: http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/2012/01/how-to-make-money-buying-virtual-real-estate

How to Make $500/week Cleaning out Foreclosures

The trick to entrepreneurship isn’t always how to start a business; it’s what business to start.

And it’s also not always about creating something new. When Steve Jobs built Apple, computers had been around for decades. Jobs didn’t make the first computer, he figured out how to make them smaller so that more people could have access to one. Cars weren’t new when Henry Ford introduced the Model-T. Ford innovated ways to sell cars for cheaper so that more people could buy them.

Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to look back at Ford and Jobs and conclude there were more opportunities in their time. However, opportunities still abound today, if you have an eye to spot them. One entrepreneurial venture that is booming right now is cleaning out foreclosures.

What is the Foreclosure Cleaning Business?

The housing bust has created a glut of foreclosed properties. Nearly 4.4% of all mortgages have received a foreclosure notice. Once homeowners move out, banks look to get the property on the market and sold as soon as possible. However, there is one major obstacle banks face in moving the houses to sell: cleaning.

Former mortgagees have no incentive to get properties in saleable condition when they leave their homes. In fact, most foreclosures are riddled with trash and property that foreclosed homeowners don’t feel like transporting with them. Foreclosed homes need a lot of TLC before they are ready for an open house. With a large inventory of bank-owned properties, there’s a need to hire cleaners.

How large of a need? From 2007-2010, foreclosure home cleaning businesses expanded 1,000%

What’s the Work Like and What Does it Pay?

Those looking to start a foreclosed home cleaning business need a flexible schedule. Banks often need cleaners at a moment’s notice and work needs to be completed on a strict turn-around. Often weekend work is involved and some properties require a lot of work before they are in selling condition. However, the jobs pay well, often averaging between $500 to $2,500 per house.

Another way that foreclosure cleaners make extra money is by selling things that have been left behind by the previous homeowner. You obviously want to check with the client, but often times they’ll ask you to clear out anything left behind in the house. It’s your choice whether to dump the stuff, keep it, or sell it.

One time I was asked by a client to dump a left-behind treadmill and washing machine. I ended up making an extra $300 (in addition to my cleaning fee) by selling them on Craigslist!

How to Start Your Own Foreclosure Cleaning Business

The good news is that you don’t need much to start this type of business. All you need is a telephone number where you can be contacted and some cleaning supplies. The crux of business success is getting jobs. To accomplish this, you’ll need to do a bit of networking.

The best place to network is with real estate agents who specialize in selling real estate owned properties. They aren’t too difficult to locate. Simply call up local realtor offices and ask for the agents in charge of selling foreclosures. It might take some selling to get listed their cleaning vendor list, but if you have a competitive price and flexible schedule, there is no reason you can’t make in-roads.

While realtors are your best bet, you can also advertise on websites that have cleaning service directories. Also, it can be useful to contact local banks directly and reach out to real estate law firms. All this doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get cleaning jobs, but banks won’t know how to reach you if you don’t advertise.

However, with payment of $500 per house, you won’t need many jobs to earn a little extra money.

Original Post at http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/2012/04/how-to-make-500week-cleaning-out-foreclosures

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.
Original Post: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/america-s-most-surprising-six-figure-jobs.html;_ylt=ArVWrKrHQO1vC3SQmdu6bTfV34dG;_ylu=X3oDMTRhaTFnNWVpBG1pdANQZXJzb25hbCBGaW5hbmNlIFBvcHVsYXIEcGtnAzFjN2U0YmM1LTg1ZmEtM2NlMy1hMGUwLTc1ZGFjZTZiZDFmNgRwb3MDMwRzZWMDTWVkaWFGZWF0dXJlZExpc3QEdmVyAzIwZDZmZTQyLWRkNmQtMTFlMS1iZmZkLTJkN2YyNjE3M2ZkYw--;_ylg=X3oDMTNpMjBraDBkBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDZWEwOTdlZDgtNmY5Zi0zNzg5LTg3M2MtMDBlMDE1YTQwZjIxBHBzdGNhdANwZXJzb25hbGZpbmFuY2V8c2F2aW5nLXNwZW5kaW5nBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3