If you’re tired of clout-chasing and want a real paycheck, here are 11 “boring” jobs — from elevator mechanics to air-traffic controllers — that quietly pay $105K+ and desperately need workers.
You probably don’t think about who keeps elevators and escalators running — until they stop. These technicians do the heavy lifting: installation, maintenance and troubleshooting. The role is hands-on, physically demanding and growing about 5% a year.
Not glamorous, but essential: these managers keep workplaces safe and functioning, from janitorial contracts to emergency repairs. A bachelor’s degree and experience help; the job outlook is above average.
If spreadsheets are your jam, actuaries get paid to love them. Using math and statistics, they calculate risk for insurers, pensions and governments. High demand — projected growth ~22% through 2034 — and many roles are remote-friendly.
These managers don’t design so much as coordinate: budgets, timelines and teams of architects and engineers. Expect plenty of meetings and project oversight rather than hands-on drafting.
The behind-the-scenes tech bosses: they secure networks, manage upgrades and keep IT aligned with budgets and compliance. Requires a related degree and experience; demand is strong (about 15% growth).
Think of modern filing — huge, digital, and mission-critical. DBAs design and maintain those systems, handle backups and fix performance snags. With data exploding across industries, demand is high.
If lab work and leadership appeal, this role runs research projects and labs. It needs a science background and supervisory experience, and grows around 4% through 2034.
High responsibility, intermittent downtime: controllers keep planes moving via precise radio work. Training through the FAA academy is required; the job is stressful but highly paid.
Far from hard-hat glamour, much of this job happens in trailers: spreadsheets, schedules and permits. A bachelor’s helps; industry growth sits around 9% and demand is solid.
Yes, building artificial organs sounds sexy — but the day-to-day includes calculations, dense reports and repetitive lab work. Engineers with biology crossover will find steady demand and regulated environments.
Part tech expert, part salesperson: sales engineers solve customer problems, draft proposals and answer deep technical questions. A bachelor’s in engineering plus people skills make this a lucrative niche.
These “unsexy” careers are often recession-resistant — they keep infrastructure, data and institutions running. In a culture chasing viral fame, real wealth still belongs to people who do the work nobody brags about.
