Don't Want to be a Desk Jockey? Try These 7 Alternative Careers

Making $67,000 on average per year, product engineers design plans for inventors or corporations creating new or updated lines of merchandise. Ideas are developed in such a way that they can be produced reasonably and work effectively. This career will keep you on your toes, requiring insight into human factors, production, technical design and visual appeal.

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Jetsetting and flying from one destination to the next is a far cry from working all day in an office cubical. A pilot for an airline makes an average annual salary of $129,600, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and can visit new places without paying airfare. For an airline certificate, there is a required number of flight hours for a pilot to log while attending flight school. The FAA Airline Transport certificate, for example, requires a minimum of 1500 logged flying hours to achieve.

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There might not be anything more dreamy in an occupation than being paid to swim with dolphins. To work with dolphins, you will need to have training in the field of marine biology or animal psychology. Experience is also important in this field and will supplement or even replace the need for higher education. The job will certainly appeal to you if you love working with animals and swimming in clear waters for a slary.

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According to Cruiseline Job, a massage therapist can earn $2,600-$3,600 per month depending on the cruise line. This is certainly a unique job with plenty to see on your break times and additional cash made through tips. Most massage therapists will need qualifications in therapies such as Swedish massage, reflexology, Shiatsu, sports therapy, aromatherapy, hot stone massage, and more.

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Ever thought about running towards bad weather instead of bunkering down or getting away from them? Storm chasers face danger, but all in the name of science, right? The information gathered can help map cloud formations and track weather patterns on the ground in ways the satellites can't. If you aren't looking forward to driving around and earning a lower salary for taking pictures of cloud formations, then you could still consider a career in another aspect of weather.

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Big name actors get major roles voicing children's cartoons, like Robin Williams voicing the genie in Aladdin or Mandy Moore as Rapunzel inTangled, but the roles aren't all big ticket names. Do you even know the actor who voices Marge Simpson or Aladdin himself? Consider a unique career doing voiceovers for TV commercials, radio spots, and narrating movies and you might be looking at a career that pays $50,000-$80,000 per year.

Hopefully, these ideas will spark the creative bug in your mind to consider careers outside of the box. There are plenty of ways to earn a living and the best way to find job satisfaction is to do something that makes you happy and matters to you. Working in an active career or unique line of work is perfect for the young hopeful who doesn't want to become a desk jockey.

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