5 Salaries You Thought Would Be Higher

By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer






Income isn't considered polite conversation for most Americans. We'll talk about our jobs, our families, the weather, the couple down the street who is obviously hiding something in that garage -- but not how much we earn.
In our culture, the more off-limits a topic is, the more it intrigues us. Unlike other taboo subjects, your neighbor's income isn't likely to keep you up at night with burning questions you must hear answered before you die.
Still, curiosity gets the best of us. Sometimes you hear somebody's occupation and wonder, "How in the world can you survive on that salary?" Or you hear another job title and daydream about running through fields of money.
To keep you from breaking into your neighbor's home to take a peek at his or her checkbook, we've put together a list of occupations and the salaries that just might surprise you because they don't earn as much as you'd expect. It's not that these salaries are low; it's that when you take into account what these people go through, you'd probably expect to see bigger numbers on their pay stubs.
1. Fishers
What they do: The seafood we eat has to get on our plates somehow, and chances are you're not skilled enough to catch a swordfish or lobster. Fishers work to catch fish and various sea life, which we not only eat but also use as bait.
What they earn:$28,280/year
Why it's surprising: Being a fisher is tough, dangerous work. Not only are you subject to the whims of the day's weather, but you're also battling the mood of the water and the unpredictability of the fish -- all while avoiding collision with other boats. I suspect most people would take a lot of convincing (not to mention financial reward) to face all these obstacles.

2. Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic and installer
What they do: HVACR mechanics install heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration units in residential or commercial sites. They also perform maintenance, such as yearly checkups and troubleshooting on the HVACR units.
What they earn: $40,630/year
Why it's surprising: Getting an engineer out to your home to look at an AC problem seems to cost an outrageous fortune (and it always occurs when you're strapped for cash). You've probably assumed the person fixing your unit probably just tightened a bolt and overcharged you so he could pocket the money and take a trip to the Bahamas. The truth is, all that money isn't going straight into their pockets. The cost of parts, transportation and overhead are the reason you're paying so much per hour to get your plumbing back on track.

3. Construction and maintenance painters
What they do: The fresh coat of paint you see on the walls of a home, in a store, on a bridge or on a building were applied by painters in the construction and maintenance industry.
What they earn: $35,230/year
Why it's surprising: Painting often falls into one of two categories: bothersome or dangerous. Homeowners hire painters because they don't want to go through the trouble of taping down plastic to cover the floor, applying coat after coat until the walls are covered or having to balance on a ladder to get that hard-to-reach spot. Businesses and agencies hire painters because not just anyone can -- or is willing to --paint a bridge or a building, which is way more involved than painting the four walls of your living room. For a task that many people loathe and that puts you in harm's way, more money sounds like a reasonable idea.

4. Court reporters
What they do: Court reporters transcribe what is said during trials, mediations and other legal proceedings.
What they earn: $48,380/year
Why it's surprising: When you think about all the activity taking place during a trial, you probably think more about the excitement of a John Grisham novel than of the quiet observer meticulously writing down every word that's spoken aloud. Yet, court reporters play a vital role in several stages and types of legal proceedings. It's hard to imagine legal proceedings without the ability to refer to an accurate, detailed transcript. The salary isn't as high as you might expect for a job that requires extreme attention to detail in such important situations.

5. Foresters
What they do: Foresters work with landowners, whether they're businesses or the public, in order to keep forested land healthy and productive. They decide when to plant trees and how to treat or prevent threats, such as tree diseases or fires.
What they earn: $54,030/year
Why it's surprising: Few of us probably even realize that being a forester is a real job. Yet, the amount of forested land in the United States is large, and managing the health and well-being of these areas is a huge task that requires a lot of research and coordination with property owners. When you consider just how important healthy, green land is to air quality and the environment, you'd probably expect foresters to have higher compensation.

*Salary figures based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Copyright 2009 CareerBuilder.com All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Friday, January 23, 2009 - 12:32 PM




Amazing that regional airline pilot isn't on there. The fisherman make me more than a 1st year FO.

 

Unfortunately since many captains at regionals make $70,000-$110,000 at various regionals, everyone thinks all pilots make $40,000-$60,000 based on the total average.

 

But Court reporters require extreme attention to detail in important situations. We're just bus drivers!

 

I KNEW I should have been a court reporter. They get all the FUZZ.

 

Oh you mean the approach minimums were 1200ft not 120ft.... details, details.

 

Wow...another thread so people can complain about the money we make. This gets so old! Unemployment is getting closer to the day to 10%. Just last weeks 22,000 people lost their jobs in 1 day. And after all this, people have the nerve to come on here everyday and complain about their job and pay.

There are places and times to complain about the wages we make, this is not a time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090205/...conomy_jobless

 

Airline managers are certainly going to use tough economic times as an excuse to slash compensation...of course they will want to lock it in with long term contracts which will carry over into the rebound cycle. Of course, they will not have any interest in making upward adjustsments when the profits start pouring in again

In this game you have to take the long term view.

 

You are missing my point.

People need to take a break from the constant moaning and complaining that is so common on these forums. Yes, pay sucks. Yes, mgmt sucks. But lets take a breath and for those of us who have not been furloughed and still working.....relax. There is plenty of time to fight the battle.

 

I think its hilarious that the $54,000 the forester makes is considered low. That's not terrible at all!

What's up Juice? I recall their being a positive thread started and lots of people posted to it. I can't recall how serious it stayed, but it was positive! True, we all sure do kvetch a lot! Things could definitely be much worse.

 

Since its a "5 salaries you thought would pay higher?" title, shouldn't regional airline pilot be on there? I mean Joe public thinks everyone in a pilot's uniform in the terminal is making $$$$. I'm just say'n