For all the occupations that are known to pay well or poorly, there are still many more careers out there with salaries that manage to fly under the radar of public perception. Here's a list of seven jobs with paychecks that might surprise you -- for better or worse.
Court Reporter
What they do: Create written transcripts of legal proceedings, meetings or speeches where an official written account of the event is needed
The surprise: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual salary of state government court reporters is $56,110. Many court reporters also do freelance work, which brings their salaries closer to six figures.
School Principal
What they do: Supervise all areas of a school, including educational programs, disciplinary actions, administrative tasks, budgetary concerns and managing relationships with faculty, students and students' parents
The surprise: Although much has been made of teachers' low salaries (averages are in the $40,000 range), principals can earn double that. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for high school principals is $82,225.
Paramedics
What they do: Paramedics are dispatched by a 911 operator to the scene of emergency when a person is involved with an accident or illness. When necessary, paramedics treat emergency patients and transport them to the hospital.
The surprise: Despite the fact that paramedics offer immediate, critical medical attention and frequently save lives, the BLS reports that their median annual salary is merely $26,080.
Executive Coach
What they do: Offer advice and support to CEOs, executives, managers and other professionals on work-related issues. Coaches help their clients set professional goals and strategize career moves, and counsel them on how to improve their work life.
The surprise: According to the International Coach Federation, executive coaches can earn from $350 to more than $1,000 per hour, and internal coaches (coaches employed by a company and who work with its employees) may make a base salary of $70,000 to $100,000, not including bonuses.
Astronomer
What they do: Research and write about the universe, including the composition and behavior of celestial objects.
The surprise: According to the BLS, the mean annual salary for astronomers is $101,360. Who knew stargazing paid so well?
Auctioneer
What they do: In addition to supervising the actual auction of goods and property, auctioneers are often involved with the marketing and valuation of the items up for auction.
The surprise: Though there are no statistics regarding the annual average salary of auctioneers, the National Auctioneers Association reports that they often make 10 to 15 percent of the auction's total proceeds. An article on CNN.com estimated that more than half of full-time auctioneers make a six-figure salary.
Company Founder / Entrepreneur
What they do: Establish and often manage new enterprises or companies.
The surprise: According to data collected by Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman, the founder of a company makes on average $30,000 less annually than the company's non-founder executives. Wasserman found that one reason for this pay discrepancy is that company boards believe founders are unlikely to leave the company they started, and therefore don't need to be enticed with salaries as high as non-founder executives during the company's early stages.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics
CNN.com
Harvard Business School Working Knowledge
Copyright 2007 CareerBuilder.com.
