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8 'Boring' Jobs That Secretly Pay $56+ an Hour (And Are Desperate for Workers)

These jobs don't offer a lot of thrills, but they do earn you a lucrative paycheck.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated July 10, 2026

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A boring job can quickly become exciting if it pays a lot of money. After all, few things are more exhilarating than realizing you can get ahead financially instead of struggling to make ends meet.

Today, many employers are looking to fill roles that offer great pay, even if the positions don't set the world on fire with excitement.

Here are some fast-growing jobs that, though they may not seem the most thrilling, pay at least $56 an hour, which is equivalent to $116,480 a year. All salary figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) unless noted otherwise.

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Actuaries

Median hourly salary: $60.47

Actuaries help organizations focus on potential financial costs related to risk. The job involves a lot of number crunching and expertise in using math and statistics.

That probably sounds boring to many folks. However, not only is this a lucrative job, but the BLS forecasts that the job will grow 22% by 2034, which is much faster than the average for all professions.

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Architectural and Engineering Managers

Median hourly salary: $80.64

Architectural and engineering managers play a key role in planning and managing the activities within their department.

This may include hiring and supervising staff, as well as crafting plans to research and develop everything from products to processes. They may set goals and prepare budgets for their department, including determining equipment needs.

Financial managers

Median hourly salary: $77.74

Financial managers are responsible for directing their organization's financial development. This may include budgeting and creating financial reports, as well as suggesting the right investments for the firm. Plus, the field is growing at a rate of 15%.

Most of us who are honest admit that we like money. But having to think about it every day sounds a little boring to many people.

Data scientists

Average hourly salary: $56 (Indeed)

Data scientists spend a lot of their time collecting and analyzing data. After poring over this information, they try to make predictions and provide other important insights to their companies.

This is another job where math and statistics play a big role. There should be a lot of opportunities for data scientists to find work, with the field expected to grow a whopping 34% through 2034, according to the BLS.

Computer network architects

Median hourly salary: $62.69

Computer network architects are responsible for building communication networks for an organization. These may include local area networks and intranets, among other types of networks.

Once the network is up and running, the computer network architect will likely maintain and manage it, including troubleshooting problems and suggesting upgrades.

The field is estimated to grow by 12% through 2034, faster than the average for all professions, the BLS says.

Computer and information research scientists

Median hourly salary: $67.74

Computer and information research scientists tackle computing problems and work to find solutions to them. This includes developing theories and models.

A lot of their work involves using algorithms to generate and tweak software. Although they often collaborate with scientists and engineers, much of a computer and information scientist's time is spent working with a computer.

This is another career path that is expected to boom, with a much faster-than-average job growth rate of 20%.

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Senior design managers

Average hourly salary: $67.24 (Indeed)

Senior design managers oversee drawings used to create a building. This includes making sure everything conforms to codes of practice.

Workers in this role ensure the project stays on its targeted timeline and work with clients to ensure they understand the building requirements. According to Figma, 56% of hiring managers have seen an increasing demand for senior design hires.

Software developers

Median hourly salary: $63.20

Software developers design computer programs and applications. They are responsible for helping people to use the systems behind devices and networks.

Techies likely love the thought of such projects, but others may find them boring. Still, this is another high-paying profession with fast job growth — 15% through 2034, much faster than average, according to the BLS.

Bottom line

If you're looking for a job that can put extra cash in your pocket, any of the professions on this list should fit the bill. However, don't expect to experience thrills every day at work.

Instead, these sometimes "boring" careers can provide you with a fat paycheck that will allow you to travel, buy nicer cars and homes, and enjoy many other comforts that will add plenty of excitement to your life away from work.

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