18 Awesome Career Choices Most College Kids Would Never Think Of

Some of the most interesting careers come in under the radar

Business Insider

By Emmie Martin, Jacquelyn Smith, and Rachel Gillett

For many students, a college degree puts you on the direct path to a certain career, such as a doctor, teacher, or journalist.

But for many others, the future isn't as clear cut.

Maybe you want to go to med school, but don't necessarily want to be a doctor. Maybe you love maps, but aren't sure how to incorporate that passion into a career. Or perhaps you just haven't found anything that sounds appealing yet.

Luckily, there are tons of great career options out there that many college kids have no idea even exist. In this helpful thread, Reddit users shared some of these under-the-radar occupations that most students probably haven't heard of. And they pay fairly well, too.

Here are 18 of our favorites, including salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for those who need some inspiration finding their dream job.

Air traffic controller

1/18

Average annual salary: $118,780
"After school and training it pays an average of 100k a year, but there is an age limit to get accepted." �Kate1320
"My father is an ATC at Pearson. 200k a year with brilliant benefits. He provided a great quality of life for my family." �1stOnRT1
> Find a job as an air traffic controller

Court stenographer

2/18

Average annual salary: $55,000
"It's a three-year program (on average � took me four to finish), but if you're proficient in grammar, have strong language skills, have solid finger dexterity from playing an instrument or video games, and are able to work independently, it's an incredible career.
"You work from home most of the time, lawyers very rarely schedule depositions before 10:00 am, you can make your own schedule, and the pay is great. Your pay reflects how hard you want to work and the jobs you're getting, but I made 65k my first year and nearly 80k my second." �Bad_Karma21
> Find a job as a court stenographer

Dental hygienist

3/18

Average annual salary: $71,970
"I'm starting dental hygiene school in the fall and I would have never looked into it while in college. It's only after I graduated and realized that I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do that I started seriously doing some research. Most dental hygiene programs only require a certain amount of prerequisite courses and a standardized test score for admission. Most are also bachelors degree programs as well, so mom and dad are pleased and you're spending the minimal amount of time you would earning a traditional university/college degree. Plus, salary starts at 50-60k a year with ridiculous benefits, at least in my area. Dentists treat their hygienists well!" �WinnifredBurkle
> Find a job as a dental hygienist

Industrial design

4/18

Average annual salary: $67,030
"As a career, industrial design is a great fusion of art and engineering. The problems are challenging, the work is varied and creative, and design consultancies have some of the best work environments and cultures you could ask for. And at the core of it all, you're tasked with answering the question, 'What sort of future do we want to live in?' Design is so much more than making things shiny." �Grizzleyt
> Find an industrial design job

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