20 Fun Jobs That Pay Well in 2023
Written by
Caitlyn Moorhead
Edited by
Joe Evans
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Just because work isn’t synonymous with play, this doesn’t mean fun jobs don’t exist. It is often the assumption that high-paying jobs and fun careers are mutually exclusive. However, there are many options out there where you can have both. Whether your dreams take you to computer sciences or a cruise ship, it’s time to pursue your passions — and even get paid for them.
Fun Jobs That Pay Well
When trying to find a job, you shouldn’t limit yourself to what you see on social media or others’ expectations. No matter what line of work you go into, or what job training you have, remember: There is a job out there for everything, which means there is a job out there for everyone. Here are 20 fun jobs that pay an above-average salary.
- Marine Biologist
- Interior Designer
- Video Game Designer
- Netflix Tagger
- Winemaker
- Event Planner
- Cruise Director
- Graphic Designer
- Ethical Hacker
- Fashion Designer
- Magician
- Brewmaster
- Toy Designer
- Sommelier
- Radio Announcer
- Blogger
- Master Lego Builder
- Video Game Player
- Social Media Influencer
- Personal Trainer
1. Marine Biologist
- Median Annual Salary: $64,650
The dream job of many a 7-year-old can be your reality. Have you ever dreamed of swimming with fish, sharks or dolphins? Being a marine biologist means you can study them up close and personal, and get paid to do it.
2. Interior Designer
- Median Annual Salary: $60,340
Being an interior designer is great for anyone who has a knack for bringing out the best in a space. If you love working with colors, textures, materials and furniture, interior design might be a fun career worth pursuing.
3. Video Game Designer
- Median Annual Salary: $78,300
Forget playing video games when you can create them — and get paid really well to do it!
4. Netflix Tagger
- Median Annual Salary: $52,800
You could get paid a good amount of money to watch Netflix and help categorize their content, all from the comfort of your own home and on your own time.
5. Winemaker
- Median Annual Salary: $61,485
Winemaking combines the best of creativity and sensory delight for a career that, like any great wine, gets better with age.
6. Event Planner
- Median Annual Salary: $49,470
If you naturally take the reins to plan family get-togethers and office parties — and enjoy doing it — put those skills to work as a professional event planner.
7. Cruise Director
- Median Annual Salary: $56,787
If event planning sounds like your dream job but you also crave the sea, become a cruise director. You’ll get to coordinate and manage activities while enjoying life on the ocean aboard a cruise ship.
8. Graphic Designer
- Median Annual Salary: $50,710
If you love to create graphics and work with different fonts, being a graphic designer is a great option.
9. Ethical Hacker
- Median Annual Salary: $102,600
Hacking can get you in a lot of trouble unless you get hired to do it. Companies are always looking for security analysts to find weak spots, and they pay very good money for it.
10. Fashion Designer
- Median Annual Salary: $77,450
Why shop for clothes when you can design your own instead? Becoming a fashion designer, whether independently or as part of a larger business, is within reach!
11. Magician
- Median Annual Salary: $48,959
Most people are still kids at heart and love the idea of waving a magic wand. If the words “abracadabra” and “shazam” still get you excited as an adult, put them to work for you as a professional magician!
12. Brewmaster
- Median Annual Salary: $41,330
For those who enjoy a beer more than a glass of wine, brewing your own beer for the public might be just the ticket to a more fulfilled life.
13. Toy Designer
- Median Annual Salary: $65,678
If you’ve ever wanted to bring an awesome toy idea to life, being a toy designer could be for you!
14. Sommelier
- Median Annual Salary: $44,917
Being a sommelier gives wine lovers a great excuse to dive into what they love, develop their palate and make informed recommendations.
15. Radio Announcer
- Median Annual Salary: $39,098
Have you always been complimented on your voice? Try being a radio announcer and share it with everyone in your area.
16. Blogger
- Median Annual Salary: $69,510
Blogging allows you to entertain, teach and influence others. You can choose a topic you’re passionate about and form a fun and rewarding career.
17. Master Lego Builder
- Median Annual Salary: $37,500
Even as an adult, the idea of building amazing things from Legos is exciting. Let your inner child take over and become a master builder.
18. Video Game Player
- Median Annual Salary: $51,999
If you just want to play video games, that’s okay, too. People around the world get paid to do it every day, either through competitive leagues or just streaming from their homes.
19. Social Media Influencer
- Median Annual Salary: $46,703
Love using social media? Become an influencer or brand ambassador to get paid for connecting with people online.
20. Personal Trainer
- Median Annual Salary: $45,870
Being a personal trainer is a fun job for those who love fitness. You get to get paid for staying healthy and teaching others how to do the same.
Final Take
Work feels less like work when you have a job you love. Take some time to truly consider your personality and the things you love to do. Chances are that there is a job out there that is perfect for you and your income needs.
FAQ
- What is the most enjoyable career?
- The happiest job or most enjoyable career for you is completely subjective. It depends on what you love to do and what skill sets you have. Some of the more popular jobs considered to be enjoyable include:
- – Park Ranger
- – Video Game Player
- – Brewmaster
- – Netflix Tagger
- – Marine Biologist
- – Cruise Director
- – Event Planner
- – Graphic Designer
- What is the easiest job to get that pays a lot?
- There are high-paying jobs that don't require a master's degree or extensive training including:
- – Animal care or dog walking
- – Flight attendant
- – Housesitter
- – Babysitter
- What is the highest paying fun job?
- Ethical hackers make an average of $102,600 per year. If you have the computer knowledge, you could get paid very well to help companies detect weak spots in their systems.
Brandy Woodfolk contributed to the reporting for this article.
Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.
- Glassdoor. "Glassdoor."
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics."
- ZipRecruiter. "ZipRecruiter."
