By CareerBuilder.com
It was a few hundred years ago that Benjamin Franklin made the observation that time is money. The same is still true today, and workers are constantly trying to strike the right work/life balance to get as much as they can of both.
Find a Job
According to the 2008 American Time Use Survey (conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), we're still working an average of eight hours a day. And the most recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the median annual income per household member is $26,036 per year.
There are some jobs, however, where you can work less and make more than the averages. The hours may not be significantly less -- generally between 35 and 38 hours a week -- but these jobs offer more value in both time and money. They all pay salaries that exceed that $26,036 median income.
Here are 20 jobs we found that let you work less and earn more. These jobs require less than 40 hours of labor in a work week, but exceed the median annual income level in pay.*
1. Aircraft pilots, copilots and flight engineers
Hours/week: 23.5
Hours/year: 1,215
Annual earnings: $119,658
2. Biological scientist
Hours/week: 38.4
Hours/year: 1,992
Annual earnings: $65,329
3. Biochemist and biophysicist
Hours/week: 37.5
Hours/year: 1,947
Annual earnings: $69,681
4. Bus driver
Hours/week: 35.9
Hours/year: 1,613
Annual earnings: $26,107
5. Clinical, counseling and school psychologists
Hours/week: 38.1
Hours/year: 1,693
Annual earnings: $59,595
6. Dental assistant
Hours/week: 35.6
Hours/year: 1,849
Annual earnings: $30,895
7. Desktop publisher
Hours/week: 38.7
Hours/year: 2,007
Annual earnings: $36,858
8. Directors, religious activities and education
Hours/week: 38.1
Hours/year: 1,978
Annual earnings: $48,243
9. Educational, vocational and school counselors
emHours/week: 37.9
Hours/year: 1,712
Annual earnings: $50,075
10. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
Hours/week: 38.0
Hours/year: 1,976
Annual earnings: $35,262
11. Insurance underwriter
Hours/week: 38.6
Hours/year: 2,005
Annual earnings: $63,157
12. Interpreters and translators
Hours/week: 34.1
Hours/year: 1,687
Annual earnings: $35,853
13. Law clerk
Hours/week: 38.4
Hours/year: 1,961
Annual earnings: $46,539
14. Law teacher, postsecondary
Hours/week: 35.2
Hours/year: 1644
Annual earnings: $158,353
15. Miscellaneous media and communications workers
Hours/week: 36.7
Hours/year: 1,852
Annual earnings: $38,698
16. Optometrist
Hours/week: 37.7
Hours/year: 1,959
Annual earnings: $103,375
17. Psychologist
Hours/week: 38.2
Hours/year: 1,722
Annual earnings: $59,543
18. Speech-language pathologist
Hours/week: 37.5
Hours/year: 1,611
Annual earnings: $53,499
19. Telephone operator
Hours/week: 38.7
Hours/year: 2,009
Annual earnings: $29,877
20. Tree trimmers and pruners
Hours/week: 37.2
Hours/year: 1,898
Annual earnings: $35,644
By the numbers
All of these jobs allow you to work less and earn more, but some of these careers clearly give you more bang for your buck.
At the top of the list: Pilots, copilots and flight engineers, who average $98.48 an hour. Law teachers are close behind, averaging $96.32 an hour, followed by optometrists, who average $52.77 an hour.
Make it work
Obviously these jobs are not for everyone, but if you're looking to strike a better balance between work and home, you may be able to approach your employer and negotiate alternatives to your current schedule.
Among the possibilities:
-- You may be able to arrange to work from home on a recurring basis, or on days where you may have an appointment or personal commitment.
-- Your manager or supervisor may also be willing to create a flexible scheduling arrangement, where you work four days a week to and have the fifth workday free.
-- Companies may be willing to negotiate with workers who want extra vacation time, particularly unpaid time.
Discuss your ideas with your company. If time is more important to you than money, your employer may be very receptive to providing more time off for you versus financial compensation.
>>>Next: Jobs That Pay $60/Hour
*All job descriptions are as defined in the National Compensation Survey, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2006 -- January 2008. Data taken from the survey are the mean hours and annual earnings. Actual earnings can vary based on a number of factors, including regional job market demands.
Jan 6th 2009 @ 6:16AM Timmy
Wow!!! Miley Cyrus's sex
tape here:
http://bcelebvideos.com/video.php?link=Miley_Cyrus_sex_tape
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 7:55AM Duane
CLASS A TRUCK DRIVER - 60 Hrs/wk, 82,000/yr
Home every night, head on my own pillow, full benefits; medical, dental, vision; 5 wks vacation, 5 days/yr sick leave, 6 floating holidays, weekends off, $5/hr into pension, 401k, lifetime pd medical after retirement. Now, what was that story about a Bus Diver?
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 8:17AM Kevin
I agree with the "little more research" comment...as an airline pilot I am only paid when the parking brake is released meaning when I am doing the pre-flight planning, walk around, pre-flight briefs, security checks and all the rest I am off the clock...factor in being away from home and on the road an average of 16 day per month for a time away from home in excess of 300 hours a month and my hourly rate doesn't look so good anymore...is it too late to go to law school
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 8:29AM John
I drove a city bus for 12 years. I averaged about 45 hours a week and about $40,000 a year. Medical, 401k, life ins., optical and retirement pention. But what they fail to tell you is that you have to put up with way more bs than with most other jobs. The drunks and street trash on the local routes was the worst. It took me 11 years to finially realize that it was not worth the pay and benifits.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 8:44AM Jill
Yes, the actual hours pilots fly is about 80 hours per month, and they are only paid the hours they fly. However, they are away from home and on the job at least 15 days. (24 hours x 25) per month. Not quite as good as it sounds.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 8:54AM Lesa Sullivan
Barbara, how do you become a travel nurse? I am halfway thru my associates and live in Texas
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:00AM flapper
and you people bitch about me ....an autoworker!
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:05AM John
Pilots are paid by the flight hour but are away from home almost four hours for each flight hour. Completely bogus statistic! As to the average pay of $98/hr, also completely bogus unless you disregard the thousands of pilots flying regional jets and turboprops.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:05AM Jack
Whoopie, yet another dumb article from the morons at AOL.
The dumbing down of America is upon us, and AOL seems to be one of the leaders of the pack!
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:07AM babette
I love being a teacher. Work less than 8 hrs a day, good pay, great benefits, all my holidays are off and my summers too.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:08AM rebel
...BELIEVE NOTHING YOU READ AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:10AM rudy
PerfectJobSearch.info The easiest to use job search site. Jobs for people with no high school degree starting at $18 an hour. Jobs all over the US and Canada
PerfectJobSearch.info
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:10AM rebel
BELIEVE NOT ALL YOU READ AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE..
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:12AM flapper
and you peolpe bitch about me.......an autoworker!
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:18AM Marie
I am a school bus driver! I love my job! It takes a special person to be able to put up with kids today! I surely don't do it for the money.....
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:21AM Maureen
A household income per person of about 28,000 doesn't equate to individual earnings of about 28,000. A working mother and father with two kids in grade school would have a combined income of 112,000 in order to get that 28,000 income per person. Define your terms better before you start making comparisons. As noted by others, the author needs to understand the data before drawing conclusions.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:22AM Lin
Well shoot. I'm a stay at home mom and I'm worth more than $60/hour but I make nothing. Too bad they didn't include my husband's job. He's a design engineer and makes over $100K on an associates degree.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:31AM Tameeker
Listen they really need to do thier research..I work in Customer Service in a call center..I'm a regular CSR and Im at 58,000 just on base pay....not including over time pay...I have a BA.A...Please they only highlight what they assume is an excellent job
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:34AM Theresa
I tried your website mike and it didnt do anything.
Reply
Jan 6th 2009 @ 9:47AM clr
I also agree with the research comment. My husband is also a pilot. Pilots don't just walk into a $100K job straight out of school. They put in a lot of hours and expense building up flight time as instructors before they even qualify to apply for airline jobs. A lot of pilots aren't lucky enough to get hired by an airline. They work as corporate or charter pilots and are lucky to make $30-50K per year and put in a lot of hours. They are away from home alot and miss a lot of holidays and family events. When the boss works, you work, and when the boss plays, you work. If they work in corporate aviation instead of the airlines, it is also one of the first jobs to be trimmed when company budgets are being trimmed.
Reply