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11 'Boring' Jobs That Secretly Pay $87,000 or More (And Are Desperate for Workers)

Stable, well-paying careers you've probably overlooked.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Oct. 21, 2026

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Most people work to live, rather than living to work. People crave a stable job that gives them enough time off to enjoy their friends, family, and hobbies while also allowing them to save for things like homeownership and retirement. If you want to grow your wealth, a "boring" job with a solid weekly paycheck might be exactly what you need.

If you're looking for a steady, boring job that pays the bills, these are the positions that are currently in demand.

Editor's note: Salary information taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Project managers

Median annual salary: $102,320

The Project Management Institute projects 25 million roles will be needed over the next five years, which means roughly two million people will have to join the field every year to keep up with demand. Projects aren't going to coordinate budgets, schedules, and staffing on their own, after all.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a lower projection of 73,200 job openings per year, but the position still pays well and doesn't necessarily require a degree.

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Data scientists

Median annual salary: $123,230

It's all about spreadsheets, databases, and dashboards for a data scientist. Pulling data, running models, and checking for errors can be repetitive, but it can pay well if you've got a bachelor's degree in math, computer science, or something related to the field.

Many of these jobs are remote and involve sitting at a desk all day.

Actuaries

Median annual salary: $130,000

Estimating risk for insurance companies and other financial products isn't glamorous, but it's steady and pays the bills. It doesn't require a flashy degree, but it does require passing a series of exams.

The BLS estimates this field will grow 9% over the next decade, which is slightly faster than the average.

Management analysts

Median annual salary: $101,860

Organizations bring in management analysts when they need to cut costs or improve efficiency. This is data-heavy work that can often be done remotely, but can involve interviewing employees.

The BLS projects approximately 109,200 job openings in this field each year over the next 10 years, so it's expected to be a highly in-demand position.

Database administrators

Median annual salary: $126,760

Every company needs databases to manage and organize their information, ranging from client records to cataloging and more. The job requires a degree related to computer science, but it is steady work that is projected to grow at a steady pace and increase by about 6,500 jobs each year for the next decade.

Sales managers

Median annual salary: $148,270

Sales isn't particularly fun or exciting, but if you have experience as a rep, then you can trade in the commissions for a steady paycheck as a manager. Coordinating a sales team along with product or service delivery doesn't necessarily require a degree, and the field is projected to grow by about 29,000 jobs each year over the next 10 years.

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Funeral sales specialist

Median annual salary: $119,000 (upper end, according to ZipRecruiter)

Working in the funeral industry may be considered gloomy, but sales specialists are largely dealing with pre-need sales and helping with planning for the inevitable future rather than dealing with freshly grieving families. It doesn't necessarily require a degree, although an associate's degree tends to offer higher salaries.

First-line supervisors of firefighters

Median annual salary: $108,380+ (upper end)

You don't need a degree to fight fires, but if you have experience, you can take a step away from the action by working in a coordinating position for first responders.

This is a good fit for people who don't want to be chained to a desk all day, but also don't want to be directly in the action.

Quality assurance worker

Median annual salary: $87,000 (upper end, according to Glassdoor)

Testing products or services to make sure they meet requirements and standards is ideally a boring job, because nobody wants emergencies. The highest pay can often be found in positions in the federal government, although private sector jobs are also available.

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Compliance officer

Median annual salary: $80,730

Industries with strict regulatory requirements utilize compliance officers to interpret regulations and design programs to be implemented. A degree may be required, but on-the-job training is also offered by many companies.

About 16,700 job openings are projected by the BLS each year.

Wind energy turbine technicians

Median annual salary: $92,460 (upper end)

There is a shift towards green energy solutions, and wind is one of the leading alternative energy sources. Technicians make about $64,120, but skilled workers who rise in the ranks could earn $92,000+ per year.

The field is expected to grow at a rate of 30% over the next 10 years, so it's likely to stay in high demand.

Bottom line

The age-old wisdom "Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life" sounds great, but it's meaningless if it doesn't help pay for your bills. No matter how meaningful a job feels, if it doesn't help you get ahead financially, it will always lose out to a more "boring" role that offers stability, a living wage, and the ability to support yourself.

If you're thinking about a career shift, start strategically: explore online courses or certificate programs you can complete while still employed, so you can move toward better pay without sacrificing financial security.

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