Another six-figure job is that of an air-traffic controller. Air-traffic controllers can earn high income for reasons of specialized skills, high responsibility, and extensive training. First, they must exert constant awareness of their surroundings and continually process new information. They must comfortably shoulder the huge responsibility of handling the lives of the millions of flyers. They must also be able to concentrate amid great noise. A good memory is also important for referencing the many Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) procedures relevant to traffic control. This job is perhaps the most training-intensive out of those profiled here, as it requires applicants to have a bachelor's degree (ideally in aviation technology) and pass the stringent FAA pre-employment test. Hiring trends have even helped institute the FAA Collegiate Training Initiative, in which 26 U.S. colleges, collaborating with the FAA, recruit college students and train them as air-traffic controllers.
Mining manager jobs represent the job search perhaps the least common in the U.S. This job requires many everyday managerial skills such as overseeing a large staff, making schedules, and budgeting. It also demands mining expertise and knowledge of optimal mining methodologies for various terrains. This job also demands engineering skills for supporting the mining staff, with a bachelor's degree in engineering providing an asset. This job, like that of an air-traffic controller, can be physically taxing because a manager must oversee a mining staff working a 24/7 schedule. Moreover, it is high-risk due to mining's volatile environment. Mentally, it demands the ability to plan long-term operational goals while regulating every worker's safety.
Another high paying job normally unassociated with six figures is that of court reporter. This position requires the quite advanced ability to type at least 200 words per minute. A court reporter who works strictly for a court reporting agency may earn about $50,000 per year, but can earn twice that much by doing freelance typing for private depositions and transcribing business meetings. Court reporters may also do broadcast captioning for television or the Web, as captioning jobs have exploded since the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The most lucrative court reporting jobs require a bachelor's degree with certification in both court and caption reporting.
Education administrators represent another occupation that regularly reaches six figures. These people are hired by schools, museums, and universities to develop school policies, regulate school budgets, and supervise teaching staff. At schools, they often act as principals and mediate between teachers and parents while administering student discipline. Administrators who work in the most affluent areas often make the most money. Education administrators armed with either a bachelor's degree in education administration or an MBA stand the best chances for hitting six figures per year, especially if they can show an excellent record of accomplishment for improving matters such as employee retention.
